Chapter 5: Beneath the Mask

Chat Noir's POV

Nooooooooooooooo. Marinette has a crush on ME? I'M the one who made her cry tonight?

"I'm lucky to have a friend like you, Chat Noir." Marinette commented, as she gave him one final squeeze before leaning away. The smile on her face is what broke the rest of his heart. Chat back flipped out of the tree.

"No Marinette. No, you're not." He began to pace in front of the tree, running his hands through his shaggy mane of hair. Marinette struggled to detangle herself from her nook.

"What are you talking about, Chat? I am lucky. You said so yourself: you'll always be there for me."

"And even when I'm not there with you, I am hurting you." Chat was becoming more and more hysterical. He could see the worry etched on Marinette's face in the moonlight. After months of hoping that one day she would return his feelings, THIS is what happens? "Why do you even like him? He's a model who probably only cares about his looks right? What else could there possibly be to him?" While these were rumors that went around about him, Adrien had never stopped to wonder if they had a kernel of truth to them. Who knows, Marinette could be like the dozens of other girls in the city crushing on the Parisian model. Before he could think any further about it, he felt himself laid out on the ground and a throbbing pain in his cheek. Chat looked up to see Marinette's palm outstretched and tears in her eyes.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." Her voice quavered.

Chat moved into a sitting position, massaging his aching cheek. "Okay, I may have deserved that. But seriously: out of all of the guys in Paris, why him?" He gestured to her. "YOU could have any guy you want. Why him?" Chat knew for a fact there had been several other suitors this past year. He genuinely needed to know the answer.

Marinette breathed out a laugh as she looked to the moonlight penetrating the willow vines, the moonbeams highlighting her tears. "To be honest, I didn't like him when we first met. I thought he was part of a prank Chloe was playing on me. Turns out he was actually trying to be nice." She sat and leaned against the tree trunk for support. Her voice became very soft. "I remember it was raining that day. I had forgotten my umbrella. Adrien had come outside to apologize… and he gave me his umbrella. There was something about that day," Marinette looked to Chat Noir. "I felt a connection to him, like we were meant for each other or something. I know it sounds stupid." She got up, turning to face the tree.

A cool breeze blew through, ruffling her hair and her skirt. The moonlight gave her an ethereal glow. Chat sat on the cool ground, just staring at her. This was his Princess Marinette; his friend Marinette; his I-want-to-be-more-than-friends Marinette. She remembered the day with the umbrella. She felt a connection. This was clearly more than just a celebrity crush. Marinette understood more about him than he realized. It was in that moonlit moment he knew what he needed to do. He extended a hand, inviting her to sit next to him.

Confused, Marinette obliged and sat next to him. Their knees touched as Chat pulled her hands into his. Chat knew that what he was about to do could seem very forceful. He didn't want to frighten her, but he needed to do it. Once again, he cupped her face in his hands; Marinette's eyes went wide; with fear or trepidation Chat couldn't tell.

"I'm sorry, Mari. You need to know." Slowly, he moved his lips to hers. Both of their eyes closed in a moment of pure bliss. This kiss was more real, more solid than the forced one Chloe had given him. It seemed like Marinette was about to kiss him back when she made a noise and shoved him away. She was on her feet in an instant, wiping her mouth.

"What the heck, Chat Noir? What was that? You know I like Adrien and everyone knows that you're in love with Ladybug."

Chat stood, not making eye contact. "I know you do. And I used to. This is why you have to know. Plagg, claws out." A bright green light signified Chat's de-transformation. Soon, he sat vulnerable before her as Adrien.

General POV

Silence filled the space between them. Neither of them seemed to be blinking or breathing. Suddenly, Marinette burst out laughing. As she laughed, Marinette missed the tiny black kwami that flew into Adrien's shirt. She knew this had to be a joke he was playing on her and he would join in laughing any moment. However, she could tell this reaction surprised him. As he continued in his stunned silence, Marinette's laughter trailed off.

Wait. This is for real? This isn't a joke? ADRIEN IS CHAT NOIR? Marinette became stock still, her mouth open, her finger pointed at Adrien, and a strangled noise coming from deep within her.

"Marinette?" No response.

"MARINETTE!" Adrien stood and grabbed her hand, thinking he had actually broken her. This brought her back to reality.

"How can you be Chat Noir?" She pushed him away again. "Why would you Reveal yourself? You're not supposed to do that!" Immediately she began to blush. "Oh no. You knew how I felt and still wanted to hear me say it?" Marinette advanced towards him, shaking her fist. "Is this all just a game to you? You think this is funny, Agreste?"

Adrien became defensive as she grew angrier and angrier. He ran from her clenched fist. "Marinette, I just needed to tell you. It's new and confusing, but I really do feel that way about you! I don't like Chloe. She only kissed me to get at you… because she guessed that I liked you." The ground suddenly seemed interesting because he refused to meet her eyes. Marinette stopped chasing him and lowered her arm. "I never meant to hurt you, I don't EVER want to hurt you." When he looked back up, Adrien's eyes were moist.

"Maybe I didn't really love Ladybug, but the idea of her. Even if she knew who Chat Noir was, there was no plausible way for it to work. It was stupid." He closed their distance. "But I truly have fallen for you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Getting to know you, as Chat and Adrien, has been the highlight of these past few months." He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "At least now I know why you were always nervous around me." He smiled, trying to break the tension. When she did not return the grin, he stuffed his hands in his pockets; Adrien was still wearing the Ladybug onsie.

"I get it if this changes things. If you're feelings are different now, please just tell me. I don't want to lose our friendship."

Marinette saw how much this was draining him emotionally. Gone was the Adrien from earlier in the night who ran from house to house with her looking for candy. In his place was a droopy shell, trying to keep one of his dear friends. They were still standing close enough she could take his hand from his pocket and squeeze it. Adrien didn't glance up

"Adrien, you're not the only one with a secret." At that, his eyes snapped to attention. She removed her hand from his, hugging herself tightly. "You might think I'm just a normal girl with a normal life, but there's something about me that no one knows yet; not even Alya or my parents." Marinette gently lifted her beanie from her head. A tiny red blur hesitantly flew from its perch on Marinette's head.

"Marinette? What are you doing?" The creature seemed nervous.

"It was going to happen sooner or later, Tikki. Might as well get it over with." Now it was Marinette who couldn't meet Adrien's eyes.

"Wait, is that a kwami? How do you have a kwami?" Adrien's wide eyes became even wider when he saw his own kwami launch from his jacket and tackle Marinette's… the one she called Tikki. They squealed as they embraced, obviously having been away from each other a long time. Adrien pointed back and forth between Tikki and Marinette. "Are you…" It was now Adrien's turn to make strange guttural sounds.

"Yes Adrien. I am Ladybug."