What was taking him so long?

Ladybug paced the floor of the safehouse, the weight of what she was about to do finally hitting her. Oh god, she was really going through with this! Both of them! Did she know him outside of the mask? What if she didn't? Would it make things better or worse? She chewed at her lip as both scenarios played out in her head. If they didn't know each other... She cringed. How awkward would that be? What the hell would they even say to one another? At the same time though... if they did know each other... Chat had literally thought the world of Ladybug. How was plain old Marinette supposed to compete? She'd no doubt be a disappointment. Her stomach churned. Was it too late to back out?

Her answer came as soon as she heard the cat land behind her. Marinette's heart jumped into her throat. This was it. They were really going to bare everything to each other. All nerve she'd gathered for this moment suddenly failed her.

"L-Ladybug?"

The heroine swallowed hard. 'You can do this,' she told herself. 'It's just Chat. You know him. It'll be alright.' She took a deep breath before turning to face her partner.

"Hey..." she said, toying with her bangs.

Chat shifted on his feet. "H-hey..."

The teens stared at each other for a few silent seconds before the bug cleared her throat.

"So," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "How do you want to do this? Should we just drop it or..."

His ears swiveled back. "Um... Before we do that... I really need to tell you something."

Her forced smile eased away. "What is it?"

"I sorta... already... know?"

Ladybug stared at the blond, not quite getting what he said. As she watched his tail flit nervously behind him, though, the words finally sank in.

"You... know?!"

Chat nodded, too scared to make eye contact.

"I... But... How!?"

"I kinda just... figured it out."

"Did you?" she asked, her voice edging on anger. "Or did someone tell you?"

"Spades had nothing to do with it!" he said, frantically waving his hands. "She said it wasn't her place to tell."

Ladybug folded her arms with a snort. "I have a real hard time believing that."

Chat ducked his head. Rubbing at his bicep, the teen spoke in a somber tone. "She's not as bad as you think, Mari."

The scowl on the bug's face didn't change. Chat sighed.

"I never asked her to tell me. I just... A lot of things just started making sense. There were a lot of coincidences, and... well... I literally just figured it out today."

Ladybug's expression eased. The sight of him bolting out of her room replayed in her mind. A soft "oh" was all that escaped her lips. It... made sense, now.

Chat spun his ring, eyes firmly glued to the floor. "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," the bug said with a sigh. She went over to him and laid a hand on his arm. "You don't deserve me snapping at you. Not when I know how stressed you are." When he still didn't look at her, Ladybug brushed his bangs aside then cupped his cheek. "Let's start over, okay?"

Emerald eyes met bluebell ones. Chat took in a breath and slowly let it out. He gave her a curt nod. Ladybug smiled back, warm and kind.

"Alright then. How do you want to do this?"

Chat thought about it for a moment. "Um... before we get to that. Can I just... say something?"

"Of course," Ladybug said with a frown.

Hesitant, the blond boy took both her hands into his own. He cleared his throat as he tried to gather the right words.

"You are utterly amazing." The heroine cocked her head in confusion. She started to open her mouth, but Chat held up a hand to silence her. "Let me get this out."

Ladybug pursed her lips, but waited for him to continue.

"Back when we first met, I knew immediately that you were someone incredible. You have this passion, this strength that just can't be put into words. I... fell pretty hard for you."

A blush dusted her cheeks, barely showing under her mask. Chat rubbed a thumb over her knuckles, eyes distant.

"I need you to know that who you are under the mask doesn't change any of that. You're still amazing, Marinette. And I still love you. I'm just not in love with you."

"I know that."

He brought her hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss against her fingers. "Even still, I can't imagine my life without you."

She pulled him into a hug. "I'm not going anywhere, Chaton. I promise."

The cat held her close, heart in his throat. "I'm so sorry, Marinette."

"Sorry?" She pulled back to look at him. "Why are you sorry?"

He didn't answer, nor did he look at her. Ladybug furrowed her brow.

"Chat?"

Sighing once more, the blond finally spoke. "Claws in."

Green sparks flooded the room, forcing Ladybug to shield her eyes. As soon as they dissipated, she blinked at the teen before her and froze. Neither one said a word. Adrien's gaze flickered to and from his partner's face. She continued to stare unblinkingly at him, pulling out of his grasp her only reaction.

"Marinette?"

She took a step back. Then another.

"Mari, please say something."

"I-I..." Ladybug shook her head. This wasn't happening. He couldn't be Adrien! She would've noticed, right?! Her vision blurred. No matter how she looked at it, it made no sense. How could they be the same person?! They were nothing alike! Adrien was... And Chat was so...

"This can't be real," she whispered.

The model gave her a somber look. "Mari..."

She shook her head, again. "I-I'm just dreaming. This is just a really bad dream and I'm gonna wake up any moment."

Her voice broke, and so did Adrien's heart. He reached out for her, but she backed further away. His hand hung in the air for a moment, then retreated to grab his own arm. A sob rose out of the pigtailed girl which she quickly tried to smother in her palms. But more soon followed as the reality of it finally hit her. Adrien was Chat. Her partner, the one person she trusted with her life. She never noticed that he was in love with her. Never put two and two together about the boy she thought she knew everything about. Now, he was in love with someone else. And trying to let her down easy. She buried her face in her hands.

She blew it. He had wanted her, and she blew it.

When her sobs grew louder, Adrien tried once again to comfort her. She didn't shrink away from him, this time, and he was able to pull her back into his embrace. Tears dotted his own eyes as he tried to console her. He shushed softly in her ear, rubbing slow circles into her back. It didn't help in the slightest.

Time passed, and Ladybug's tears finally began to subside. The young girl had excused herself for the bathroom, leaving Adrien curled up on the couch and feeling worse than ever. The teen toyed with his ring as he lost himself in thought. Plagg nestled atop his head, which he found mildly comforting. Barely.

The bathroom door squeaked open, and Adrien sat at attention. It wasn't his partner he saw first, but a small red kwami with big blue eyes. The boy blinked. The little bug smiled at him. He gave her one back along with an awkward wave.

"Uh... hi."

"Hello to you, too, Adrien," the kwami said in a bell-like voice. "It's nice to meet you. Officially, anyway."

"What, no hello for me?" Plagg asked, floating up to the little ladybug. "I'm hurt, Teeks."

Tikki rolled her eyes. "Oh, hush. You know I missed you, too."

Adrien chuckled at them, then his eyes found the shy girl hiding in the doorway. Marinette kept her gaze down, eyes hidden behind her bangs. Her hands were fidgety against her stomach. The model pursed his lips. He got to his feet and made his way over to her. Rubbing his neck, Adrien tried to think of something to say.

"Hey... H-how're you feeling?" He mentally kicked himself for asking that. He knew how she was feeling.

Marinette wiped at her cheek, still not looking at him. "A l-little better, I think. This, uh... w-wasn't what I was expecting."

"Yeah, I'd imagine not."

The teens stood in awkward silence. Neither one of them knew what to say in that moment. Adrien studied his partner. He wished he could've made this easier on her.

"Mari, I-"

"W-would we have worked?"

The blond blinked. "Huh?"

Marinette sniffed, again. "I k-know it's stupid, but... I can't help but wonder, y'know? I-If I hadn't been so strict about the masks... If I had been brave enough to actually talk to you-"

"If I had actually paid attention to the girl right in front of me?"

She finally looked up at him, eyes shining with still unshed tears. Adrien took hold of her shaking hands with a sigh.

"I don't know how things would've worked out," he said in a gentle voice. "But, what I do know is that us not being anything more isn't your fault. It isn't anyone's fault."

"I know that. I just-"

"Mari."

The blackette quieted. Adrien cupped her face, thumbing away a stray teardrop.

"I already told you any guy that doesn't see how wonderful you are is an idiot. He doesn't deserve your heart, and he sure as hell isn't worth your tears."

"Yes, he is," she all but whispered. She nuzzled his palm. "He's worth every single drop." Closing her eyes, Marinette swallowed hard. "How did I not see you?"

He couldn't really answer that. Instead, he guided the girl to couch and sat down beside her, holding her hand all the while. More sniffles came from the blackette, which made the silence between them all the more uncomfortable. Finally, Marinette sighed.

"I guess Spades was right."

Adrien looked at her with a frown. "About what?"

"I wish I hadn't agreed to this." Something must've passed along his face, because the girl suddenly backpedaled. "I-I didn't mean it like that!"

"I know you didn't," Adrien said, softly.

Her face fell, eyes moving to their joined hands. "...I-if you don't mind me asking... why her?"

The blond pursed his lips. "Honestly? It kinda came out of nowhere. I think it helped that we didn't really need the masks. I didn't have to hide half of myself around her."

The designer curled up and hugged her knees. "I guess that makes sense." She watched as the model rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you know who she is?"

Adrien spun his ring. "Yeah. She more or less told me, outright."

Marinette hummed. Then her brow furrowed. "Wait... What about..."

"What?"

She bit her cheek. "Luna said that... You and her..."

The boy paled. He sank deeper into his seat. Marinette's eyes bore into him, adding to his discomfort. Part of him was hoping this wouldn't come up. Even if Luna had given him the go-ahead, sharing that particular secret still felt wrong.

"I-is that true?" Marinette asked. "Are you two..."

A hand swept through golden locks as Adrien groaned. "More or less..."

"...Oh. H-how do you plan on breaking it to her, then?"

"...Breaking what to her?"

"That you're dating Spades," Marinette said. "She has a right to know, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry, what?" The cat blinked at her, more than a little dumbfounded.

"Adrien, you can't just leave Luna in the dark. You have to tell her something."

"...Marinette, no."

Her gaze turned into a glare. "Yes, you do! I'm not gonna let you lead my best friend on, Adrien!"

"I'm not... Oh God, you're gonna make me say it, aren't you?" He buried his face in his hands.

Marinette folded her arms. "You're seriously not going to tell her you're in love with someone else."

"I would if I was."

"What's that supposed to..." He gave her a pointed look. He practically saw the gears at work in her head as it finally dawned on her. Marinette's jaw dropped. "Noooooo."

Adrien nodded. "Mmhm."

"Luna. The same girl we go to class with."

"The very one."

"...You sure the thief's not just pulling your leg?"

"I've seen under the mask, so yeah. Positive."

Marinette floundered over her words, still trying to wrap her head around the idea. "I... But how?! They're nothing alike! Luna's sweet and innocent-"

"We're clearly not talking about the same person," Adrien said. "Try vindictive bitch."

The blackette deadpanned. "Okay, assuming I believe you, that is still my bestie and your girlfriend we're talking about."

"Yeah, and you and I both know Luna would agree with me."

"...Fair point. But, I still don't see it."

The model shrugged. "Are you sure that's not because you just don't want to see it?"

Marinette frowned at the thought. Was that really it? The more she considered it, the more coincidences she found, and the more things started to make sense. But, even still...

"Is it really that hard to believe, Mari?" Adrien asked.

"I..." Her brow creased. "I don't know... I just can't imagine Luna wanting to hurt you."

The boy pressed his mouth into a hard line. "Yeah, well... She's scared."

"That's not an excuse."

"I know it's not." He sighed and rubbed at his eyes in exhaustion. "Honestly, I think she's just trying to push me away. In her mind, it'd be easier if she forgot who we were. And maybe she's right, but..." Adrien looked down at his hands. He began to toy with his ring, rolling it over and over. "Do you think I should do it?"

Marinette looked at him in surprise. "Why?She said she's willing to wait, right?"

"Is it really fair to make her wait, though?" Adrien countered. "We could just be prolonging the inevitable. What if we can't find a way to keep Hawkmoth from coming after her, again? What if she doesn't make it the two weeks?"

Marinette touched the back of his hand. "We have to try, right?"

"Do we?"

She pursed her lips, studying her partner long and hard. "...Okay. Let's say you do erase her memories. Would you really be okay with it?"

"I don't know. Maybe?" he said with a shrug. "I mean it's not like we couldn't be together afterward."

"What if you can't, though?"

Dread filled his chest as he looked at her. "What?"

Marinette folded her arms, again. Her gaze was narrowed at the floor. "We don't know if it would be permanent, chaton," she told him. "Who's to say we won't trigger her memories just by being around her? Erasing her memories could mean letting her go, forever. Are you sure you can live with that?"

He closed his eyes, then laid his forehead against clenched fists. "If it means she's safe..."

"But, it doesn't." Her blue eyes turned back to the boy at her side. "Either way, there's still an akuma out there, waiting for her. Even if we do manage to purify it, who's to say another one won't take it's place?"

Another groan rose up from the blond. "Y'know, you're not really making this any easier."

"Sorry," Marinette muttered, softly.

Adrien threw his head back, heaving a sigh. "Why does this have to be so difficult?"

Her face solemn, Marinette laid her head against the boy's shoulder. "I promised I'd help you, minou," she told him. "Whatever you choose to do, I'll support you. But, I don't want you to feel pressured into it. There might still be an alternative. We won't know for sure until we start looking."

He didn't answer.

"It's still your choice, Adrien. Do you want to erase her memories?"

"No, but..." The teen sighed, tracing his thumb along the ridge of his ring. "Luna thinks heroes shouldn't get to be selfish."

"We're not heroes all the time. And if anyone deserves to be selfish, it's you."

He rested his cheek against her head. "Thanks, bugaboo."

Marinette smiled at the nickname. She glanced up at the blond boy and wondered how she'd missed so much for so long. Had she really been more enamored with an idea than a real person? Her chest still ached at the thought of what could've been. The more she thought about it, though, the more she realized how delusional she'd been. She'd clung so tightly onto little moments, a glance, a stray touch... She'd convinced herself that they were meant for each other, but could never drum up the nerve to make the first move. She had so many opportunities, and she let them all slip by. It hurt, but it was her own damn fault.

They sat in comforting quiet for a few minutes. Above them, Plagg sat perched atop the large safe. His tail swished in mild irritation. Not only was his stomach empty (honestly, it's been literal hours!), but the way things were headed was putting him on edge. Something bad was coming. He didn't know what it was, and that made him all the more nervous.

"What're you thinking?"

The tiny cat spared the other kwami a glance. She sat beside him, her big round eyes studying him curiously. Plagg sighed before returning his gaze to the teens.

"This ain't gonna end well, Teeks."

Tikki frowned. "You don't think they should wait."

"I don't think we have the luxury to," the cat said, folding his arms. "I get what the kid's feeling, but if we don't do something, now-"

"You're afraid Luna might not make it two weeks."

His frown deepened. "If Hawkmoth really wanted her, he would've taken her by now. The fact that we haven't seen the effects of an unpurified akuma means either she lied about the event, or..."

"...Or something bigger is at play," Tikki finished.

"I felt her panic, Teeks. She wasn't lying."

The red kwami hummed. "Well, if that's the case, then I don't see the need for us to worry."

"Huh?" Plagg said, giving har an incredulous look.

"If what Luna said is true, then she managed to resist Hawkmoth's mind control. How many people can you say have the ability to do that?"

He frowned. "Not many. But, still..."

"It's not like you to be paranoid, Plagg," Tikki said as she snuggled up to him.

The black cat let out a playful snort. "Yeah, I guess that's more you're thing, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "I've been in Luna's presence, too. She's a good kid, even if she is a thief. And the fact that she was able to fight back means we can't go underestimating her. I'm sure it'll all turn out fine."

"I hope you're right, Teeks."

"I usually am, aren't I?" the little ladybug said with a cheeky smile.

"Usually," Plagg admitted. "But you didn't se what the kid's dad gave her."

"So, what now?"

"We visit Master Fu, I guess. The sooner the better."

"I doubt he'd want visitors at this time of night," Adrien said.

"What about tomorrow? We could head over during lunch period."

He pulled a face. "Assuming I can sneak away from my bodyguard. I'm so beyond grounded, it's not even funny."

"What exactly did you do?"

"Played hookie. For the entire day."

Marinette frowned. "Wait, you haven't been home at all?"

"Not since this morning."

"Have you eaten at all?"

He thought about it for a moment. "...Yes?"

"The cookies don't count, Adrien."

He blushed. "I wasn't really thinking about food this morning."

"Well, we're fixing that right now." The pigtailed girl stood to stretch. "I think there's an all-night American Chinese place not too far from here. If we're lucky, the buffet might still be open."

"Eh... I really shouldn't-"

"Your diet's already shot, Adrien. And I think we're both in need of some greasy comfort food after the day we've had." She offered him a hand. "I'm not taking no for an answer."

The cat gave her a grateful smile as she pulled him to his feet. He studied her for a moment, thoughts still on what-ifs and might've-beens. Had he known who his lady was sooner... Had he taken Luna's advice and given Marinette a chance... Would he still feel the same way?

"Adrien?"

He blinked as she snapped him out of his thoughts. He scratched his head with a sheepish smile. "Sorry. Guess I spaced for a second."

He suddenly felt Marinette's arms wrap around his torso. His face heated up from the contact.

"I promise everything will work out. We've been in worse situations and made it through just fine. So, no more doubts, okay?"

The blond smiled and returned the hug. "Deal."

Marinette released him. She glanced up towards their kwamis. "You ready, Tikki?"

The red bug eyed the other kwami for a moment before zipping down to her chosen with a grin. "Ready when you are!"

"Does this mean we're finally getting food?" Plagg whined.

"That's the idea, anyway," Marinette said with a laugh.

"Well, it's about time! Really, I don't know how you can sit there and talk while I'm starving to death in a corner!"

"Oh, you're so dramatic, Plagg!" Tikki said, folding her tiny arms.

The cat god huffed. "You try living a day without your precious sweets, then tell me how dramatic I'm being."

The teens chuckled.

"We'd better leave before he blows a gasket," Adrien whispered behind a hand.

Marinette gave him a quick nod, then cleared her throat. "Tikki, Spots On!"

Adrien watched in astonishment as the girl morphed right in front of him. Red sparks faded away, leaving behind a bashful Ladybug. She played with her bangs a bit.

"Gotta say, this does feel weird," the bug said.

Adrien chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

She shifted on her feet. "So... You ready?"

"Uh... yeah..." He frowned as a thought occurred to him. "C-can I ask you a favor, first?"

Ladybug blinked at him. "Of course! What is it?"

The blond blushed. "...Do you know where I can get a dress?"

This chapter was a bitch to write, let me tell you! Still, I'm happy with how it turned out. Sorry for the long wait, though. Good news is next chapter is more or less ready to go! Bad news? It's the last chapter. I figured this will be a good place to end it. As I said, I fully intend to be adding a sequel at some point, but I promised myself that as soon as this story was done, I'd focus on my actual writing for once (I've had a manuscript in the works for literal years that I really need to finish). Even so, thank you all for the love and support you've given me throughout this story. You guys are amazing! I'll be saving review replies for the last chapter, so I'll see you then! PEACE OUT!

Playlist:

Cry- Carly Rae Jepsen

While Your Lips Are Still Red- Nightwish

No Easy Way Out- Beast in Black

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)- Green Day

Believe- Kalafina