After the Akuma attack yesterday, Marinette had quite enjoyed their day in. They had gone out for coffee and pastries around lunchtime, but that had been it. Today was overcast and dark but thankfully not raining. She ran her hands through the blonde hair of her girlfriend that was using her lap as a pillow.

"Hey, Mari. I have an idea for our costumes for the contest."

Marinette leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Oh? Do tell, Zo." Zoe blushed as she continued, making Marinette's heart skip a beat. "We should dress as our favorite heroes." Marinette raised an eyebrow. Oh, the fun she was going to have with this idea. "That could work, maybe we make the costumes match but we keep the hair the same color as our own?" Zoe nodded eagerly. "Yes! I like that idea. You would go as a female Chat Noir, I guess. You could pull off Lady Norie as well."

The designer could not help but smirk evilly at what she was about to do. "While I do like Chat Noir as a hero a lot, I think my favorite is shifted. To a new heroine on the team." That had sparked Zoe's interest, as Marinette had hoped it would. "Is it Pigella? I wouldn't blame you. She is so cute." "Pigella is adorable, Zo. But no, she is not the one I am referring to."

"Purple Tigress then? She's so mature and sexy." "Wrong again. I really like Vesperia."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Zoe's face went beetroot red, just as she had hoped it would. She was merciless today. Zoe finally regained the use of her words. "Oh, really?" She asked casually. "You like the new Queen Bee?"

Marinette gently poked her nose. "She is so much better than Queen Bee. I have seen her on the news and on the streets a few times. She even reminds me of my favorite civilian, come to think of it." She should not take such joy from Zoe floundering for words. She had experienced this too. When someone had gushed about Ladybug to her, how did you respond without giving away your identity? Zoe tried to play it cool, which did not work given what Marinette knew. "I'm sure she would be grateful you think so highly of her. I might even be just a little bit jealous." Marinette kissed her softly on the lips. "I'm with you, Zoe. The only way I would ever consider indulging any of my Vesperia fantasies is if she was you." If her girlfriend had been standing, she suspect she would have swooned at those words. Zoe pulled herself together quickly. "It's the same for me. I would never kiss Ladybug senseless, if I had the chance."

'But you have.' Marinette thought smugly. 'You kissed your heroine senseless not ten minutes ago.' "So you want to be Ladybug? I honestly think she would look lovely as a blonde. We can do your hair up in the buns easily enough. I mean, they are identical to mine." Zoe blinked as she did a double take of Marinette's hair. "Oh, did you adopt that style after Ladybug appeared? I never noticed how similar the buns were." "Ah no. I started wearing them like this just over a year ago, when school let out before the heroes and villains showed up. A friend of mine wore her hair like this all the years we went to school together." Her girlfriend looked for a moment like she was on the verge of figuring it out but she watched as the quantum masking won and sealed off those thoughts. "I think you're right, Mari. I'll do a blonde Ladybug to your raven haired Vesperia. Though the heroes might not like us seemingly shipping them." Marinette giggled and pulled out her phone. "Do I need to pull up the mountains of Vespebug fanfiction on the Ladyblog alone? We will hardly stand out." She had been very smug when the fanfiction community had jumped on what she thought of as the only OTP. Zoe again had turned crimson and she could not help but kiss her. "I'll get started on the costumes after school tomorrow. Want to come over so I can take measurements?" Zoe looked her in the eye, regaining her composure. "Actual measurements or an excuse to touch me in little clothing and make out?" "Yes." Marinette said simply and Zoe rolled her eyes as she sat up and pulled her into her embrace. "Alright. We'll go to your place after school tomorrow. Will Adrien and Kagami be coming for dinner?"

Marinette chuckled. "Most likely. Since Gabriel passed away and Tomoe left for Japan, they are pretty much left to their own devices. My parents would adopt them, if they could." "Then they would really be your siblings. I know Kagami already treats you like one." Marinette thought of the app on her phone where Adrien and Kagami had sent messages apologizing for missing the Akuma attack. She did not want to think of hero duties today. All she wanted was to enjoy this peaceful day with her girlfriend before the storm. 'Tomorrow,' she thought. 'I'll tell her tomorrow.' Next time: Revelations