Marinette's good mood had completely evaporated by Wednesday morning and it was all thanks to one person.
Chloe Bourgeois.
The irritating blonde was in a foul mood herself and in typical Chloe fashion, she decided to take it out on someone else. And as usual, Marinette was her favourite target as she already deliberately tripped Marinette up twice and made several cruel remarks about Marinette's clothes, perfume, and hair. And that was all before class had even started!
"Just ignore her, girl," Alya said as she placed a comforting hand on Marinette's arm, "she's just jealous."
"Why would I be jealous of that?!" Chloe retorted and Marinette flinched at the insult of not evening being addressed as a person. "I bet she doesn't even have a secret admirer and she made the whole thing up," Chloe carried on cruelly, "Clumsinette is such a pathetic person that she would definitely send herself little love notes just to make herself feel better."
Marinette bristled at that but didn't say anything.
What was happening between her and Chat Noir was something so very special and sweet that she didn't want to tarnish it by trying to defend it to the likes of Chloe who could never comprehend real, selfless, love.
"Speaking from experience are we?" Alya shot back nastily. "I seem to recall someone sent a Valentine to themselves last year after they tricked Adrien to autograph the bottom bit." Chloe flushed a hideous puce colour as she trembled with barely suppressed fury. Alya ignored her as she tugged at Marinette's arm. "Come on, girl," she said calmly, "we need to pick up our books before we hit class."
And with that Marinette was guided to her locker where unsurprisingly, once she opened it, she found another present from Chat Noir.
It was an incredibly familiar pink cardboard box with his usual note sitting on top of it. Without thinking about it, she picked up the note and began to open it.
"Ooh!!" Alya cried out ecstatically. "Another one! What does it say? What does it say?" she begged childishly.
"On the eighth day of Valentine," Marinette read out loud, "my true love gave to me, eight cakes of magic."
And then carefully, Marinette pulled out the pink box to find it was from her parents' bakery – which sent her heart fluttering as she remembered her conversation on Monday evening and suddenly she felt flattered and pleased and happy that Chat had really listened to her – and opened it up to reveal eight of her favourite chocolate cupcakes that she only ever got for special occasions iced with vanilla cream frosting and a black cherry sauce spelling out a letter on each cake.
I
L
O
V
E
Y
O
U
I love you, her cakes read, I love you.
She blushed deeply as she felt Alya peer over her shoulder. "Oh!" she cried out. "That's disgustingly sweet! You're so lucky."
"Please!"
Marinette and Alya groaned in unison as they heard Chloe behind them. Obviously the blonde couldn't take a hint and decided to follow them in order to keep on being annoying.
"They're from her parents' bakery," Chloe sneered, "that's not sweet, that's cheap. Her so called secret admirer obviously couldn't be bothered anymore, and who could blame them? Marin-snore is such a bore."
Alya glared furiously at Chloe for that as Marinette cringed and clutched the box to her chest. Chloe wasn't wrong there. She was boring.
"It's either that or Marinette sent them to herself because she's so pathetic and needy that she made up a secret admirer. So," she drawled out, "which ones is it Marinette Dupain-Cheng? Is your admirer bored of you or are you really that pathetic?"
"I think you're the pathetic one," Alya snarled as she stepped between Marinette and Chloe, "don't you have anything better to do than follow us around, oh, wait, you don't because no one likes you."
Chloe sniffed haughtily. "I'm the most popular girl in this school," she said primly, "everyone adores me while you two are two nobodies that no one bothers to give the time of day too. You keep pretending Marinette," she said in a sickly sweet voice, "everyone will know how pathetic you truly are on the fifteenth when you come to school with no boyfriend in sight."
And with that she sauntered off cackling like the evil witch Marinette always knew she was (and Marinette was being kind there!).
"Don't listen to her," Alya said crossly as she glowered at Chloe, "she's just jealous."
Marinette nodded and mumbled something as she closed her cake box. Logically she knew Alya was right and she knew that Chat Noir brought her cakes from her parents' bakery because he listened to her and knew she couldn't enjoy the taste of anyone else's baking without feeling guilty. He knew that she thought her parents' baking was magic and incorporated that note.
And yet….she couldn't help but think that nagging thought….what if he was bored with her already?
After all, it wasn't Marinette he fell in love with.
It was Ladybug.
MLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLB
Marinette was plagued with doubt throughout the day and wished terribly she hadn't brought her lunch with her and could go home earlier. Instead she had to endure a long, tiring, day filled with Chloe sniggering at her and whispering insults.
She had almost forgotten about the cakes entirely if it wasn't for the fact both of her parents were eagerly awaiting her return and lit up instantly at the sight of the pink box in her hands.
"Oh!" Mum cried out ecstatically. "You got them! Are they okay?" she asked hopefully. "They didn't get crushed did they?"
"And they tasted all right?" Dad added. "We were a little rushed having been asked last minute."
It took a moment for the realisation that her parents knew she had an admirer sink in….and steadily, quickly, she flushed in embarrassment. "You knew?!" she squeaked out.
Both of her parents nodded at that.
"He came by yesterday to place his cake order and then he told us that he had been courting you," Dad explained, "he then asked us for permission to continue to do so and if he could please take you out for dinner on Valentine's Day."
"Such a sweet boy!" Mum cooed. "You don't get nice young gentlemen like that anymore these days."
"You didn't get nice boys like that back in our day," Dad grinned, "he makes us men all look bad."
"W-w-wait!" Marinette stammered. "He's taking me out on Valentine's Day?!"
She knew Chat Noir was planning to reveal himself to her on Valentine's Day and she knew Chat must have also approached her parents in his civilian form because otherwise her parents would definitely be singing a different tune than they were currently (a superhero regularly targeted by Paris' only super-powered villain and also wears tight, tight, leather? There was no way on earth her Dad would approve of that one!). So that, of course, meant that Marinette would have dinner with the boy behind the mask.
A boy who could be anyone from one of her best friends to her a complete stranger that lived on the other side of the city.
The idea made her stomach twist in knots of nervousness and terror.
It must have shown on her face because the smiles on her parents' faces vanished pretty quickly.
"Well," Dad said as he and Mum exchanged one of their telepathic worried glances, "we said he could."
"But sweetheart," Mum rushed in reassuringly, "you don't have to. We did tell him that it was up to you."
"That's all right," Marinette squirmed. She already knew she could say no whenever she wanted to. That wasn't the problem. Not anymore. But it was difficult to tell her parents what was really bothering her without telling them she was Ladybug. So instead she squashed down her worries and forced a smile on her face. "I'm actually looking forwards to it."
Both of her parents stared at her doubtfully and exchanged one of those telepathic glances before they both smiled again. Marinette soon found herself cradled in their arms as they all stood in their usual three way hug and she sighed softly as she soaked in the comfort that her parents had to offer.
It was like stepping into a warm bath. All of her aches and pains were suddenly soothed, her worries was washed away, and she felt warm and alive again.
"Whatever you decided," Dad murmured, "we'll support you."
"No matter what," Mum agreed as she ran her fingers through Marinette's hair, "though I must confess I shall be sorely disappointed if you don't make this boy my son in law."
"Mum!" Marinette squawked.
"No, no, your mother is right," Dad grinned, "no father would like to see some dashing young boy romance their daughter but for this young man I would happily escort you down the alter."
"Dad!"
This teasing, unfortunately, will continue throughout the evening until Marinette finally caved in and escaped to her room.
And that was when Tiki started. Having helped herself to one of Marinette's cupcakes (not that Marinette minded….much), the red Kwami was happily licking her tiny arms clean from frosting when she piped up cheekily;
"I do hope you have cakes like this at your wedding, Marinette."
Marinette felt she was fully entitled to scream into her pillow at that.
MLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLB
Chat Noir suspected something was off when he arrived to find Marinette huddled under a blanket while she sat out on the balcony.
It suddenly felt like all the progress he had made – to be invited in, to cuddle on the chaise, to sit with her on her bed, all that warmth and casualness and intimacy – had suddenly vanished and he was back to day one. The fact that Marinette was picking at her cupcake nervously didn't help matters either.
"Good evening, Princess," he said as cheerfully as possible, "and how are you on this fine evening?"
"Good," Marinette answered quietly as she avoided all eye contact, "it's been okay." There was a long silence and Chat shifted nervously as he tried to desperately think what to say. Marinette pulled a bit of cake and shoved it in her mouth and after a few, terribly long, moments she chewed it all up and swallowed it. "So…." She spoke up a little louder, "my parents know who you are."
It was a statement of fact not a question.
And he suppose he should have expected this. The Dupain-Cheng family didn't strike him the type to keep secret from each other. In fact the whole Ladybug thing was probably the only secret Marinette ever kept from her parents.
That must kill her a little bit every day.
"They don't know I'm Chat Noir," he reassured her, just in case the idea of him accidentally revealing his superhero identity was what was bothering her, "but they do know my civilian identity is your secret admirer. I wanted to get your favourite cakes." He nodded to the remaining cupcakes. Marinette had made short work of them only an L, V, and E were still intact while another had crumbled entirely to crumbs from Marinette's nervous picking. "And I wanted to make sure it was okay to take you out on a school night."
"I see," Marinette whispered.
There was another beat of silence that began to drag slightly. Uncomfortably so.
"So, erm, are you okay with that?" he asked nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "I know it was a bit presumptuous-"
"It's fine!" Marinette interrupted. "It was sweet," she added a little more gently and reassuringly, "you have endeared yourself to my parents."
"And you?" he asked desperately. "Have I endeared myself to you?"
"You know you have," Marinette whispered as her face turned a deep, dusky, shade of pink. "That's what you've been doing for the last eight days, isn't it?"
"Are you….are you upset that your parents know who I am and you don't?" he asked anxiously. "I know it's unfair for me to hide who I am but I promise-"
"You have respected my decision to hide our identities from one another for over a year," Marinette spoke up softly. A gentle and sweet understanding lit her eyes and he drank it all in like a man dying of thirst. "You have been incredibly patient with me the entire time and the only reason you now know is because of an accident. It would only be fair if I gave you the same respect and patience and waited a few more days like you have asked."
"Princess…." He murmured in awe. "Thank you."
There is another long, horrible, silence as Marinette pushed another tiny bit of cake through her lips and he found himself still clueless to what was actually bothering her.
"So," he coughed, "if my going to your parents isn't the problem and your parents knowing who I am is also not the problem, then what is bothering you?" Marinette froze and didn't respond at all. "Come on Bugaboo," he cajoled, "I'm your partner and friend. You can tell me anything."
"The cakes!" Marinette burst out.
He felt his cat ears literally droop at that. "You didn't like them?" he asked sadly.
"No, I do!" Marinette reassured him. "They're my favourite and the thought was wonderful!"
"But….?"
"But…." Marinette chewed her bottom lip anxiously. He envied her deeply for that. He always wanted to have a taste of that plump, pink, tempting lip. "Love," she whispered as her cheeks burned brightly, "that's a little….intense, don't you think?"
"It's the truth," Chat Noir said simply, "I love you."
"No," Marinette shook her head, "you love Ladybug."
"You are Ladybug," Chat Noir pointed out, "but it was never about the hero," he carried on before Marinette could argue with him, because he knew she would, she always did when she thought she was right, "it was always about the girl behind the mask."
"How could that be?" Marinette asked bitterly. "I'm nothing like Ladybug in real life. I'm just plain Marinette."
"Beautiful Marinette," he corrected her.
"Clumsy Marinette," she shot out defiantly but her cheeks were pink and there was something rather flustered about her, "silly Marinette, scatter-brained Marinette, always late Marinette, and cowardly Marinette." Marinette nibbled her bottom lip again. "Boring Marinette," she said almost tearfully.
"Adorable Marinette," he shot back, "clever Marinette, creative Marinette, always does her best Marinette, and brave Marinette, very brave." He leaned in close so that their noses were almost touching and Marinette had no choice but to look into his eyes and see the honesty in there. "Interesting Marinette," he purred out.
"I'm not," she whispered, "I'm really not."
"You are the most interesting person in my life," he whispered back fiercely, "always have been, and always will be."
"Ladybug is-"
"You," he interrupted. "Everything I have loved in Ladybug is everything that you are. I was instantly attracted to the clumsy girl that got us tangled in her yoyo string. I fell for the brave girl that did what was right despite how terrified she truly was. I loved the stubborn, temperamental, clever and creative person who was determined to do what was right and always did her very best. All at the same time I was taken by the furious force that was Marinette Dupain-Cheng in a temper, I was smitten with the clumsy, sweet, girl with the adorable laugh, I was desperate to know the shy, kind, yet strangely brave and defiant girl that would always stand up for her friends." He swallowed back the bile that had risen up in his throat from the mere thought that she thought so lowly of herself. "For some reason it took me a very long time to put the pieces together and I'm sorry it took me seeing you transform for me to actually do it but I can assure you, from the bottom of my heart, I love you."
Marinette stared back at him with the biggest, widest, bluest eyes he had ever seen. "I….am….you…I…" she stammered out. "I'm…..just Marinette," she whispered eventually.
He shook his head sadly.
She didn't believe him.
Or maybe she did but she was too scared to admit it.
He wished he knew what could possibly have caused such low self-esteem and fear in someone who had been loved, adored, and cherished her whole life. She was blatantly the apple of her parents' eye, and no worry was too silly, no question too ridiculous, no bruise too insignificant, she had been listened to, comforted, and soothed. Surely she should be secure in this knowledge and be confident to accept other people would love her just as deeply?
"You're everything to me," he said quietly, "and if I do my job right I'll make you believe that too."
Marinette blushed and seemed completely incapable of words as he took her hand and kissed it longingly. His lips lingered against her soft skin as he breathed in the smell of cakes and her perfume and savoured it for as long as he could.
He will make her believe.
And then he dropped her hand and fled her balcony into the night with a new, fresh, determination to make her ninth day of Valentine all the more meaningful.
"So how," Plagg asked much later in between bites of cheese, "are you going to make the Princess believe she's worth it? From what I've seen she's incredibly stubborn. It's going to take more than nine poems for her to suddenly get over years of integrated believe that she's worthless. You should know," he added callously, "you're just as bad."
"You're right," Adrien said, ignoring the jab at his own issues, "it'll take more than poetry." He pushed the scattered scraps of paper that consisted of mostly scribbles and words crossed out into his bin. "It wasn't any good anyway."
"I'll say," Plagg snickered.
"I'm going to do something a little more straightforward so she can't miss the point," Adrien said determinedly as he pulled a fresh piece of paper towards him and picked up his pen, "I'm going to write her something far more romantic than odes to her eyes."