sorry for the delay, i was traveling.. but i'm so excited about this chapter, hope you like it!
xo moonbaby
...
Marinette spent the rest of the day torturing herself, in spite of Tikki's best efforts.
Instead of ruining the event, Fantastique's attack had just added fuel to the tabloid fires. Alternating between embarrassment, pride, and dramatic nausea, Marinette sat glued to her computer screen, scrolling through the new articles being posted every few minutes.
Agreste Aims High: Two Supergirls Claim His Attention
Top Model's Heart Belongs to Two
Agreste vs. Chat Noir: Who Will Claim Ladybug's Heart?
Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Fashion Star on the Rise
The Superhero and the Seamstress: Agreste's Two Loves
Fashion's New Power Couple
High School, High Fashion, High Drama!
The Belle of the Ball: Who is Juleka?
Not Such Model Behavior: Bad Boy Agreste Desperate for Love
Where Was Chat Noir?
Her phone had started freaking out with all the texts, calls, and notifications, so she had turned it off and stuffed it under her mattress. Every once in a while, one of her parents would come up to check on her, shaking their heads with concern and leaving yet another plate of treats. Tikki was long since recovered from the night before, and was now zooming around Marinette's room trying to burn off her sugar high. Marinette would have found it very funny under different circumstances.
Finally, with a groan, Marinette tore herself away and shut down her computer. What is Adrien thinking right now? He must be mortified, on top of miserable for the way I yelled at him as Ladybug last night. I was just so scared! She looked at the photos of her two selves with him for the 100th time. Her heart jumped with hope- he really looks like he likes us..Me! Her doubt countered. But he's a model, of course he looks good in pictures..and what about Chat Noir! The thought of the kiss caught her again, but it was becoming jumbled up with questions. Still no real explanation of where he disappeared to..
Disgusted with herself, Marinette stood up and stretched. She felt penned up in her room, crummy from sweets, dirty from staying in her pajamas, and emotionally spent. She would just have to deal with school tomorrow- all energy for worry had left her.
"Marinette, why don't you take a shower and go for a walk?" suggested Tikki, helpfully. The Kwami had finally regulated her sugar levels, and wanted to get out of the stuffy, angst filled room.
"You're probably right, Tikki," sighed Marinette, grabbing her towel and heading for the bathroom.
After her shower, Marinette did feel a little more alive. She went up to her balcony to brush her hair, and heard a commotion below. Looking down, she saw a crowd of people around the bakery door, many of them with cameras and microphones.
"Parasites!" she hissed, desperate for exercise, but clearly unable to leave without them attacking her with questions.
"Tikki, I think there's only one way out of here."
"Just say the words, Marinette, but be sneaky! It won't do for them to see Ladybug leaving Marinette's house!"
"Good point. Spots on!"
….
Adrien was in a similar state of self-laceration at his house, all 4 computer screens lit up with news of the last night. His least favorite articles were the ones pitting himself as Chat Noir against himself as Adrien. As happy as he was about kissing Ladybug, it just made everything more complicated. He couldn't help thinking he had let Ladybug down by both of his identities.
"And Marinette! How did I get her so tied up in this!?" he moaned in anguish. "I picked her up and convinced the world I'm in love with her—"
"Which you are," muttered Plagg.
" – and then I ditched her to fanboy all over Ladybug!" Adrien hurled a pillow wildly at his Kwami, totally missing.
"Ahhh, this is fun," sighed Plagg happily, having stuffed himself with cheese all day as Adrien brooded.
A knocking sound made them both start.
"..A..Adrien?" A familiar voice floated in his open window. "Are you there?"
"L-Ladybug?" Adrien's heart leapt. He looked down at his mussed pajamas, felt his dirty hair. Oh god oh no don't let her see me like this! "Uhmm, you can come in, j-just wait a minute!" he called, running to his huge closet. "Plagg! Hide!" he hissed, frantically throwing clothes in every direction. Finally, he got himself into jeans and a clean shirt. Heart pounding, he stepped back to his room.
Ladybug was hanging upside down, spider-like, gazing into his room. He followed her gaze. Oh god the computers! Adrien felt sick.
"Ladybug, I'm so-" She shook her head slightly. He stopped talking.
"I thought we should talk," she said simply, "but not here."
Gracefully, Ladybug unfurled, letting herself down into his room, snapping her yo-yo back to her hand. Internally, she was relieved. So I'm not the only one obsessed with the tabloids she thought. She walked over to his desk and turned the computers off.
"That's enough, I think."
Adrien just stared at her. How can she be so poised at a time like this? An image of Marinette's calm before the fashion show shot through his mind. He knew he should be embarrassed, but he also felt a different kind of heat rise up his neck in her presence, remembering the night before.
She extended her hand. "I'll give you a lift."
"Uhh.. of course, just let me.." Adrien ran over to his bed, rolling up a blanket to make it seem like he was there. He turned on his music player on, and Ladybug hid her smile at the angsty stuff he'd been listening to.
Adrien crossed the room and grabbed ahold of her the way he always did when they were on a mission together and needed to get up a building, fast. She started at the familiarity and he tried to cover by dropping his arms, but just managed to graze her body with his hands. They both blushed scarlet.
"Gah, sorry! It's just, uhm, last night you carried me uhh.. like that!" Adrien hoped she believed him.
"Sure…" she said, frowning slightly as she looked at his face. Why did that feel so much like Chat Noir? Twelve different emotions flared at the thought of him. I'll deal with that later. Shaking her head, she extended her arm again. Adrien tried to be more awkward this time, which wasn't hard as he was shaking with nerves. Finally, she zapped out her yo-yo, and with a familiar lurch, they were off.
It was early evening, and Paris was beautiful. Though he was sick with feeling, Adrien couldn't help but admire the city and thank his lucky stars for Ladybug's lithe body next to his, stretching and leaping as she carried him over rooftops. Finally, they came to rest, and Ladybug released him, panting lightly. Her skin was flushed from exercise, blue eyes bright, and he felt the heat spread to his belly, and a little lower. Coughing, he turned away to look around.
They were overlooking the Notre Dame, which was bathed in the pink light of early evening. Ladybug was sitting, one leg dangling off the edge and one propping up her elbow as she gazed on the cathedral.
"She looks so beautiful in pink.." she breathed.
"So do you!" blurted Adrien, followed with a facepalm.
Ladybug giggled. She patted the spot next to her.
Adrien sat down carefully.
"About last night," he started, but she cut him off again.
"You don't need to apologize," she said. "I do. I should never have yelled at you like that, when you were just trying to help. You did help! You really performed admirably."
His heart glowed with praise, though his stomach turned with deception.
"I hope you an understand that it wasn't really you I was angry at. I was just very scared for you, Adrien, I didn't know if I could really protect you." She was dry-eyed, but her voice betrayed her worry.
"If you must know, I am in..a..situation… with my partner, Chat Noir." Her voice shook as she said his name. "He just..vanished! He put us both in danger…but then he, well..nevermind." Her voice cracked, and she turned away, trying to control her face. Do not cry, Marinette. She told herself firmly. Ladybug is here to fix things with Adrien!
Regaining her composure, Ladybug turned to Adrien. Her breath caught. He was the picture of abject misery. "What- Adrien, what's wrong?" In an instant, she felt only concern for him.
Adrien couldn't speak without risking crying. His eyes were moist. I swear to god, Agreste, if you cry in front of Ladybug..! He covered his eyes with his hand, clenching his teeth.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Is it the press?" Ladybug asked gently.
He didn't say anything. Maybe I won't have to, he thought desperately. He took a deep breath, which Ladybug took as a nod.
Ladybug sighed, then smiled wickedly. "You know, I thought that picture of us was quite good!" she said, laughing a little.
Adrien looked up, shocked. "But, I mean, but..!" He was in a tangle. Ashamed of himself for the whole mess, but ashamed again that he also liked it, and this situation. He was with Ladybug looking out over the Notre Dame, and there was smile on her lips. Lips I kissed last night…did she like it? She said she wasn't mad, but..
"You're not, um, mad? Or embarrassed?" His voice was timid.
"I think I'm the lucky one in your love triangle," she said, amused. "I wear a mask. I think you do too, actually, and some photos captured you without it last night." You are really pushing your luck here, Marinette! How many green-eyed guys do you need to make out with!? she thought, enjoying her recklessness. After so much uncertainty, she was grateful to have Ladybug's confidence and mystique.
"And speaking of masks, you really are great to your fans." Adrien snorted. "With the exception of Maxine of course. But I think we can chalk that up to poor timing."
"I don't know. I'm not sure I could have done anything to appease her level of expectation," Adrien said in disgust. "People see me in magazines and think I'm some perfect person, and they think that I'm only looking at them instead of a camera. I can't live up to that, I'm just a-"
"-regular person?" finished Ladybug softly. "Under the mask, so to speak?"
He looked at her. In spite of everything she had told him on patrol, he still found it so hard to believe she ever lacked her irresistible confidence.
"You don't mean..? But you save Paris!"
She laughed humorlessly. "And then stutter in front of my crush at school." Careful, Marinette…careful..
"R-really?" Adrien stammered, and then laughed, noticing the parallel. Ladybug looked at him in surprise. He laughed again, harder, and she joined in. They laughed and laughed, shoulders shaking, holding their stomachs, tension and worry temporarily evaporating. Adrien leaned too close to the edge and started, bringing him back to gravity. Ladybug grabbed his hand, smile momentarily frozen. They both exhaled a final chuckle, staring at each other. He closed his fingers around hers, and the laughter was gone, their gaze unbroken as they each caught their breath.
"Adrien.." Ladybug breathed. Blue eyes searched green. "Do you, I mean..can I ask..." she trailed off. Her stomach turned with uncertainty and trepidation, but she had to ask. She struggled to find her Ladybug confidence, fiddling distractedly with the ring on his finger. "Marinette?"
Adrien flinched.
He looked out over Paris again, noticing the stars beginning to wink out as pink sky made way to blue.
How do I tell Ladybug that all the papers are right about me? That Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste are at odds for both Ladybug and Marinette? But he did want to talk about it, and, he realized, he trusted Ladybug completely, with his life and his feelings. Maybe she could offer some clarity, from behind the mask, whoever she was.
"Marinette.." he breathed at last. "I don't deserve her. She's so.. creative, talented, kind, generous!" His voice rose as he praised her. "And last night, wow, I mean, beautiful.." An image of her before the show, laughing.
Adrien gasped. He looked suddenly at Ladybug. A blush stood out under the mask, and the private smile she had been wearing suddenly disappeared.
He turned quickly away, mind racing. You have no proof, it's just a crazy idea! His heart hammered. If I'm wrong, I lose nothing, he said, I'll just sound a little foolish. He plunged onward.
"Actually, she reminds me of you, Ladybug." Adrien's voice was stronger now. "Especially last night at the show, she had this, I don't know, confidence that I hadn't really seen before, because usually she's kind of flustered around me, and..stutters a lot." He dared to look at her face.
Darkness had begun to fall, and Ladybug wasn't looking at him. Her mouth was tight, but her profile was unreadable. Suddenly, she withdrew her hand from his.
"We should get you back home." Ladybug stood up, expectantly. The conversation was over. She unhooked her yo-yo and put out her arm. Adrien felt guilty, mortified, but thrilled with possibility as he approached her. Nothing to lose. He slid comfortably into her grasp, ready for takeoff.
Under the mask, Marinette's mind was in a wild spiral of panic. Did I just blow my cover?! Did I just throw away the safety of Paris for a schoolgirl crush? Am I sneaking around behind Chat Noir's back, enjoying Adrien's attention like this? She was painfully aware of his body, his arms around her, his eyes refusing to leave her face. After what seemed like a decade they reached his window. His room was just as they had left it.
They landed, arms still entwined. She finally met his gaze, and the measuring session flickered through her mind. She stepped away from him.
"Thank you for your help with Fantastique, Adrien." Her voice was weary. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. Goodnight." She sprang to the window ledge.
He felt the absence of her body and shivered. Had he disappointed Ladybug twice in two days? But that desperate recklessness was still with him.
"Ladybug." She turned.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for last night." Adrien paused. In a moment, he decided to risk everything.
"My Lady."