miraculous ladybug !

Adrien was laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, when he got the message from Ladybug. She wanted to talk to him about something important? Either he was getting canned, or she had a new scoop on Shadow Moth. He wasted no time, typing out a speedy response. [ i’ll be there in two shakes of a whisker! ]

❛ Plagg! Claws out! ❜

Hopping over the Parisian rooftops, he made it as fast as he could, not wanting to keep her waiting. As he approached, he took a deep breath, looking rather sheepish. Boy, was it natural for his heart to pound this much in his chest around her? Or was it just the anxiety of that message catching up to him?

❛ You wanted to talk to me, milady? ❜

.-.-. 🐞💖🐈 .-.-.

.-.-. 🐞💖🐈 .-.-.

Upon hearing Cat’s voice, the reality of the situation sank in fully.  She was really going to suggest this idea to Cat, to his face. Marinette could feel her face heating up behind her mask. As she gathered her confidence, she hoped her favorite feline wouldn’t notice the color in her cheeks.  Ladybug nervously shifted her gaze downwards in an attempt to distract her from what she was about to say. “Y-yes! You see... Um.” She’d rehearsed this at home so many times, she had the words ready in her head minutes ago. But now they seemed to fail her in her time of need. The anxiety of ‘what if he says no’ bubbling up in her heart and mind again. It wouldn’t have been the first time Cat Noir had rejected her after all. Well, technically, it was Marinette who got rejected, not Ladybug. The fact didn’t do anything to ease her nerves. But she had to do this, no going back!

.-.-. 🐞💖🐈 .-.-.

.-.-. 🐞💖🐈 .-.-.

Well, that was that. Message sent. Ladybug just hoped she wouldn’t end up breaking his heart later on down the line.  She truly did care for her favorite kitty, even if she made seem like she didn’t at times. And that’s why she was doing this. That-- and obviously, as she found out, dating as Marinette while having to maintain a secret identity with Ladybug... just wouldn’t work out... for either her or whoever she was with.  Marinette spent a few weeks straight just mulling over the idea with Tikki (and the other kwamis occasionally). She was worried that doing this would be for the wrong reason. After all, it did seem like a last resort thing, and Ladybug didn’t want Cat to get that impression. She had refused him so many times before. Been so adamant that they weren’t a couple. It was when she asked Alya, that she’d been assured that Cat probably wouldn’t care about such things. Alya was likely right, but Ladybug was still nervous. After all, she couldn’t blame Cat if by now he wanted to move on. Despite everything he always said to the contrary. Maybe rejection was just something Marinette always feared no matter who she was asking. No matter who she was asking as.  She stared at the text one last time as she waited, nervous but unwilling to let herself get cold feet now.

@bugsout​

​milady~

That morning Marinette woke up feeling more rested than she had in some time. Despite not getting much sleep the night before. Cat had paid her a visit. He said he couldn’t get her out of his head, and the feeling had been mutual for her. So they had spent some quiet quality time together. Somehow, it had felt long over due. 

Of course, he was gone when she woke up. She expected that, considering the type of household he lived in. It wouldn’t be good for Nathalie, Gori, or his father to think he’d been gone all night. Plus, she saw him again at school. 

There was a lot they needed to talk about, but everything was happening so fast. 

Marinette had to get a new set of text books, but had gotten a new school bag after leaving the Eiffel Tower yesterday. The principal had some spare books to borrow until newer ones could be purchased for her. 

Nino had taken his seat today since she wasn’t in class for a short time at the start of the school day. From what she could tell, he was asking Adrien something about lunch yesterday. But she couldn’t be sure since Alya took that time to grill her on the same topic. Which she could barely answer, since she wasn’t very aware of things during the ‘date’ until the coffee spill and the ‘earthquake.’ 

But now it was lunchtime today and Adrien went with her to her home for lunch. Her parents had offered all manner of foods to them before Marinette asked them to just leave them alone. This time she’d accepted a few of the dishes though, considering it was lunchtime. Also, so they would actually listen and leave them alone. 

She found that with the threat of rejection gone, it was actually easier to speak to Adrien. Though she did still sometimes stammer a bit. Since he was still super dreamy in her opinion ---and so soon after well, everything. 

Adrien nodded along with Marinette’s explanation. That’s right, Bunnyx would have been back for sure by now if they had done something bad by revealing their identities to one another. But she wasn’t, and well… nothing was going wrong yet. 

Meanwhile, Plagg noticeably sunk further behind Adrien’s shoulder, well aware that he was in trouble. Seems he had no qualms with using his holder as a human shield, just in case the little red kwami got dangerous. Still, it wouldn’t be Plagg if he didn’t test the waters of his relationship with his counterpart.

❛ I simply did what was necessary, sugarcube. Besides, you’re the one who dumped hot coffee all over poor, poor Marinette for no good reason. ❜

Adrien’s eyes widened in realization at the sound of that, and he turned to face his kwami with just an equal amount of disappointment and rage. ❛ Wait… Plagg, you destroyed the café? I’ve been worried about that all day! Someone could have gotten seriously injured, or worse. ❜ A scoff.  ❛ Geez, I really can’t let you out of my sight, can I? Maybe I should downgrade you to processed cheese. ❜

❛ C-c’mon, Adrien! You wouldn’t do that to me over something so little, haha! Would you…? ❜ Plagg pleaded, giving his partner the biggest eyes he could possibly. Adrien was mostly immune to that, though. He wagged a finger at his kwami, who now seemed suddenly much more scared of him.

❛ I’ll have to think about it. For right now, you’d better be on your best behavior. ❜

Tiki seemed pleased that Plagg was also now in trouble with his holder. Even if it were a small punishment in her opinion, the fact that he would be punished at all for his wrong doings was a step, at least. She zipped back over to Marinette, giving her beloved wielder an apologetic look. 

“I’m sorry Marinette, I needed to do something to keep you from knowing that Adrien was your partner. It was all I could think of that wouldn’t cause you any real harm.”

Marinette, having listened and understood everything by now, cupped Tiki in one hand to bring her closer. “It’s okay, I know you only thought you were doing what you had to in order to keep everyone safe.” Though, she really did want that coffee, it had smelled so amazing at the time. But she could forgive her kwami, especially since she knew Tiki was sincere about it. 

“Plagg on the other hand, I don’t think I can forgive.” She eyed the little cat-like being with a tired sigh. “Thanks to you, I need a new school bag and new text books. Don’t expect me to make you anymore treats anytime soon.” Tiki shot Plagg another look before darting into Marinette’s purse. She probably wanted a little rest, Marinette thought. 

Since the kwami’s had settled down, Marinette wondered what the next step would be. Here she was with Adrien on the very top of the Eiffel Tower. Technically, they weren’t alone. But she knew he loved her and he knew she loved him now. Where do they go from here? 

Oh, but she hadn’t actually said... those three words. Could she trust herself to say them now? Without getting tongue tied? She had already felt like saying them would be difficult to Cat Noir, before she knew he was Adrien. She always had difficulties with saying what she wanted when it involved someone she loved. 

“Um... Adrien...” Marinette was careful. Cautious. She didn’t want her words to get all jumbled up. She could just feel the butterflies threatening to burst out of her chest, making things harder for her once more. “Just in case it wasn’t... clear. I wanted to say that I... I love you.”