Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Adrien yawned softly, stretching his arms above his head as he approached his classroom. 

It was early. Too early. 

His dad had forced him up at the crack of dawn for a morning photo shoot and right now, he would kill to be back in bed. One of these days, Adrien swore, he was going to convince his father to let him give up modeling.

Hah, right. Like that would ever happen.

Adrien snickered quietly to himself as he strode down the abandoned hallway and the practically silent building as he entered his classroom.

Upon turning the doorknob, he blinked in surprise at the sight of someone already in class. 

It wasn’t just anyone either. It was Marinette. The girl who had most likely been late to her birth.

She was hunched over her desk, her attention glued to her phone In fact, Adrien was certain that she hadn’t even noticed his arrival with how focused she was. Her nose was scrunched adorably and her pretty pink lips were pursed in a pout as she glared down at her phone.

Marinette huffed loudly, her brow furrowing even further as her cheeks puffed out in annoyance. Her fingers tapped loudly on her phone screen and Adrien simply could not resist leaning closer to her. 

His shoulder brushed faintly against hers as a small chuckle left his lips. “What are you doing here so early, Marinette?”

“D’AH!” she screamed, jumping about ten feet in the air. Her phone jumped with her and she flailed for it, fumbling it between her fingers before finally catching it safely. 

She let out a relieved sigh after doing so before whipping to face him, her blue eyes practically blazing with a flaming fury. “Hey! What on earth were you thinki-,” Marinette trailed off, her cheeks burning into a deep, rosy red as their noses almost bumped together. She squeaked, scrambling back away from him, only barely managing not to fall off her seat. Adrien bit back the quiet sigh that would have left his lips as he instantly missed the warmth of her shoulder against his. 

“A-Adrien! H-hello. What doing are here? I-I mean what are you doing here?”

“I asked you first.” His eyes twinkled at her with amusement. 

“O-Oh, right,” Marinette chuckled sheepishly, tucking a stray strand of hair that had fallen out of her pigtails back behind her ear. She closed her eyes, sucking in a deep breath before giving him a small smile. “I actually woke up early today because I wanted to spend more time with this new game I got absolutely addicted to.”

“Ooh, what game?” Adrien moved to sit next to her, scooting closer. He intentionally bumped his shoulder against hers as he leaned in to look down at her phone screen. “Is it Ultimate Mecha Strike? I didn’t know that was on mobile now.”

Marinette’s eyes widened, her lips parting as she seemed to forget how to breathe. He caught a brief flash of her screen before she seemed to snap back into reality, quickly turning it off before Adrien could see much more than a glimpse.

He didn’t believe it possible but her cheeks had turned an even darker shade of red as he glanced up at her.

“N-Nothing!” she stuttered.

Well, that reaction certainly told Adrien that it was, undoubtedly, something. And something big if Marinette was hiding it from him.  

Adrien couldn't help but be intrigued by Marinette's reaction. Her sudden flustered demeanor only added fuel to his curiosity. "Come on, Marinette," he teased, nudging her playfully with his elbow. "You can't hide it from me forever. What kind of game is it? What if I want to play it?"

Marinette squirmed in her seat, a nervous giggle escaping her lips. "It's just... a silly little game, nothing special. Trust me, it isn’t something you’d play," she insisted, but her attempt at nonchalance only made Adrien more determined to find out.

"Ah, come on, don't leave me hanging like this," he urged, flashing her a charming smile. "How do you know I won’t like it unless I know what it is first?"

Marinette seemed to freeze for a moment, blinking at him in surprise before throwing her head back in a loud laugh. Adrien’s heart thumped louder as he listened to her guffaw. A smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back to watch her slap her hand against her desk as she practically rolled with laughter. 

Suddenly, he was positively delighted with the fact that his father had woke him up early to go to a photo shoot. Anything would be worth it to hear Marinette giggle like this.

Finally, after gasping in a few deep breaths and wiping a tear from her eye, she turned to him. 

And wow. Had Marinette ever looked at him like that before?

Her smile was positively wicked as she reached to turn her phone back on, this time showing it to him directly. 

“It’s the newest otome game from one of my favorite developers,” Marinette snickered. “Alya reminded me that it came out yesterday so I’ve been devouring it today. Still think you’re interested?”

Adrien blinked down at the handsome blonde on her screen in surprise. His cheeks reddened even as his chest seemed to tighten uncomfortably ever so slightly. 

Clearing his throat, he rubbed at his stomach, wondering aloud, “O-otome game?” 

“Yeah, you know like, um...” she trailed off, nibbling at her lip before snapping her fingers. “A dating sim!’

“So you’re dating this guy then?” He frowned, the uncomfortable feeling in his chest worsening.

“Not for real, silly!” Marinette giggled, shaking her head before blushing. “I-I mean i-it’s just a game. I-It’s not real, of course. I-I only play for the story anyway.”

“Oh,” Adrien said, blinking back down at her phone screen as he shook away the last vestiges of the peculiar feeling. “So what’s the story like then?”

Her eyes brightened as she tapped back into the game. “So you play as the main heroine who suddenly realizes that she has powers that you can’t understand or control, right? And, as you slowly learn more about them you um, meet the male leads.” Marinette shot a quick glance over at him before darting it straight back to her phone screen. “A-anyway they help her understand that she isn’t the only one with powers and are taking her to this school where she can learn even more.”

All of a sudden, Marinette huffed, drumming her fingers angrily at her desk. “Or, at least they would if my cards were strong enough to beat this stupid level.”

“Cards?” Adrien asked, tilting his head.

“Oh, yeah I almost forgot to mention! The cards are the main part of the game!” She tapped on the screen, taking them to an entirely different menu as she pushed the phone closer to him. “You pull here for cards with the gems you have. You want the cards with the highest stars because those do the most damage.”

“Like a gacha game!” He grinned, feeling his stomach flutter happily at the beam Marinette gave him.

“Exactly!” She snapped her fingers excitedly. “So every event that comes around makes you want to spend more money than you should ever be spending on a game.”

Adrien chuckled, brushing his fingers through his hair. “I know the feeling.”

“So,” Marinette started, her devilish smile coming back as she leaned closer to him. A mischievous twinkle sparkled in her bright blue eyes. “Still think you’re interested in playing?”

“Mmm, maybe.” He leaned in closer to her, his thigh brushing against hers. “I’ve always wanted to fulfill my dreams of being a magical girl.”

Marinette laughed, sending a shiver of satisfaction down his spine. “Alright, Sailor Moon, the game is called Fantasy Hearts: Academy of Legends. Feel free to play to your heart’s content.”

“Oh, I intend to. Might even get farther in the story than you.”

Her eyes narrowed playfully. “I’d love to see you try. I’ve already got three five stars.”

The sound of a backpack falling to the floor had the two springing away from each other, staring up in surprise as Alya smirked down at the two of them. “Am I interrupting something?”

“N-no! W-we were just talking about the new game you showed me last night.” Marinette shook her head, waving her arms in front of her. “R-right, Adrien?”

“Y-yeah,” his voice cracked and he winced internally. Clearing his throat, he moved to stand up from Marinette’s seat, ready to head back over to his own seat. “We were just um discussing Fantasy Hearts.”

Alya’s smirk grew impossibly wider. “Oh, yes, I’m certain that’s exactly what you were interested in talking to Marinette about, sunshine. I’m sure Fantasy Hearts: Academy of Legends is the perfect game for you.”

“Right, well.” Adrien gave a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “I should probably head back to my desk now since Mlle. Bustier should be here shortly.”

Alya snickered as he practically scurried back to his desk where a beaming Nino greeted him. He wiggled his eyebrows at him but Adrien simply ignored it, pulling out his notebook as he tried to ignore his flaming cheeks. 

As much as he wished to be back up still talking with Marinette about literally anything, it was time to pay attention to class. Maybe they’d be able to talk after class? 

Sneaking a quick look behind him, he caught Marinette’s eye and gave her a crooked smile which she responded to with a deep blush and a small wave. 

As Mlle. Bustier strode through the open door, Adrien refocused his attention on the lesson, his mind occasionally drifting back to the conversation with Marinette. A smile drifted across his lips as he began taking down notes. Yep, today was already shaping up to be a great day.

Chapter Text

Marinette huffed quietly, blowing a strand of her dark hair out of her eyes. Her expression soured as her eyes narrowed towards where the sound of Alya’s laughter was coming from. 

The laughter wouldn’t have bothered her at all. She frequently rejoiced in the sound of her best friend’s giggles (particularly if Marinette was the one causing said laughter.) 

No, the issue was what Alya was laughing at.  

Liela, whose pointed smirk was aimed directly at Marinette as she placed a hand on Alya’s shoulder. 

She was taunting her. Berating her. Practically screaming haha, I was still invited to your best friend’s party even though you know that I’m a liar and have warned Alya about it countless times. 

It was only supposed to be her, Adrien, Alya, and Nino. So how did Lila manage to get invited?

Marinette’s blood simmered as she crushed her hand around her glass so tightly she was surprised it hadn’t shattered into a million tiny shards.

“Hey, careful there,” a quiet voice murmured in her ear. “Don’t want to break that glass.”

Her eyes widened and she whipped her head around as the touch of a warm hand slid softly over hers.

Marinette squeaked softly, her grip instantly loosening on the cup as it began to tumble out of her hands. She winced, preparing for the loud crash of the glass exploding all over Alya’s hardwood floor.

But it never came. 

Instead, Adrien grinned over at her sheepishly. His emerald eyes peered up at her apologetically as he extended the cup back out for her to take. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have startled you.”

“No, no!” Marinette quickly assured, rushing to take the glass back from him as their fingers bumped against one another. Her cheeks warmed and she quickly snatched her hand back. 

Her head already felt dizzy from the mere two times her hand had brushed against Adrien’s. Which, honestly, was probably going to do even worse things for her clumsiness. 

With a quiet, relieved sigh, Marinette carefully placed the glass on Alya’s center table, grateful that it was now out of danger of being harmed by her.  

“Seriously, Adrien, thank you very much for saving my glass.” Marinette nibbled on her lip shyly. “I’d have hated to make a mess in Alya’s living room.”

All at once his sheepish grin turned more charming as he bowed with a flourish. She couldn’t help but giggle when Adrien leaned back up to wink at her. “Of course, Marinette. After all, what sort of gentleman would I be if I didn’t rescue the lady's glass from falling? Especially if I was the one who almost caused said fall.” He nudged her with an elbow adding that last part in a whisper.

Marinette snorted loudly as Adrien wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Wow. It was hard to believe not two seconds ago she had been ready to murder Lila. Trust Adrien to be the only one who could make her laugh when she had been two seconds away from a blinding hot rage.

With a delicate curtsey, Marinette grinned up at him. “Well, this lady thanks you for your service.” Upon standing up she gave an exaggerated sigh, draping her hand across her forehead. “Oh, if only you could be around all the time. Do you know how many broken glasses you would be able to save for me?”

“Well, I...,” he started before someone squeezed in between them. 

Marinette blinked in surprise, taking a step back from the new arrival. She hadn’t realized how close she had been to Adrien and she felt her cheeks flush at the unexpected proximity. The giddiness soon faded away as she finally noticed who had slid in between them. 

It was Lila.

She was smiling up at Adrien, her hand spreading out on his chest even as he grimaced, leaning away from her touch.

“Hey, Adrien. We were just about to begin a game of truth or dare if you wanted to join us?” Lila asked, her sweet voice grating on her ears.

Marinette rolled her eyes, crossing her arms against her chest. Of course Lila couldn’t even be bothered to greet her as her attention remained solely on Adrien.

However, once Marinette saw his panicked gaze dart over to her pleadingly she quickly snapped out of her annoyance. Reaching around Lila, she grabbed Adrien’s hand and tugged him out of her grip. 

With a pasted-on sickly sweet grin, she said, “We’d love to join, Lila!”

She watched as Lila’s face darkened into a scowl for but an instant before it had disappeared, replaced with a copy of Marinette’s cheerful grin. “And we’d love to have you both but unfortunately there’s only room for one player. So sorry, Marinette, bu-”

Her lie was cut off as Alya joined them, sipping on her drink. “What are you talking about, Lila? I invited you over here to ask both Marinette and Adrien if they wanted to join.”

Marinette’s lips pursed as Lila’s eyes flashed with anger before she turned to Alya with a saccharine smile. “Oh, I’m sorry! I must have heard wrong. You know my tinnitus has been starting to act up again lately which just makes it so difficult to hear.”

Both Adrien and Marinette gave each other knowing looks as Alya nodded sadly, patting her friend's shoulder. “No worries, Lila. I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope it gets better again.”

Lila simply winced in return, rubbing at her ears as her lips transformed into a small pout.

“So, truth or dare then?” Adrien interjected, clapping his hands before rubbing them together.

Marinette glanced at Adrien, grateful for the distraction from Lila's presence. "Sure, let's play!"

“Great!” Alya grinned at them both before nodding over at the couch. “Let’s head on over so we can get started then.”

As the small group made their way over to the couch, Alya called out, “Hey, Nino! Truth or dare?”

“Dare, of course, babe.” 

She snickered as a wicked gleam entered her eyes. “I dare you to do a head spin.”

“Done deal!” Nino jumped up and stretched his arms out. With a slowly released breath, he did a handstand before carefully lowering his head to the ground. He actually managed to spin for a few seconds before crashing onto the floor with a loud bang.

“Nice job, babe.” Alya gave him a quick kiss when he sat back up, rubbing his head. “That looked kind of cool for the first few seconds.”

He laughed softly, stealing her hand in his as he gave it a quick squeeze. “Just trying to impress you.”

“Shut up and pick someone else to go now!” She laughed teasingly, her eyes sparkling at Nino with amusement.

He chuckled before scanning their small group, his eyes landing on Lila. “Lila, truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

Adrien and Marinette both couldn’t hide a snicker and she threw a fierce glare their way.

“Mmm.” Nino hummed, tapping his chin in thought. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “Ah, I got it! What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you during the school year so far?”

Lila’s teeth dug into her lower lip as she lowered her head, her hair covering her face before she tucked it back behind her ear. Her eyes welled with crocodile tears as she placed a hand across her chest earnestly. “It had to have been when my Mendacii Syndrome acted up and I accidentally said that Marinette pushed me down the stairs and stole my grandmother’s pendant. You know I didn’t mean any of those things, right Marinette? And you must know how sorry I am that I said that.”

Marinette’s nails dug harshly into her skin as she tried to bite back the harsh laugh that nearly left her lips. Lila had almost gotten her expelled and she wanted her to believe she was sorry?!  

Pfft, yeah right.

With anger simmering in her blood, she opened her mouth to shout that she’d never believe her lies again when a calming hand was placed on her leg. 

Blinking in surprise, Marinette turned to look at Adrien who slowly shook his head at her. His gaze darted to Alya and then back to her until she understood. Her best friend had already put her arms around the liar, consoling her.

“It’s alright, Lila. Marinette forgave you for this a long time ago. Didn’t you, Marinette?”

Forcing out a bitter smile, she gave a stiff nod. “Yeah. Alya’s right. It’s all water under the bridge now, Lila,” she spat out.

Lila sniffled, swiping the palm of her hand against the false tear tracks on her cheeks. A tremulous grin lit up her face as she spoke earnestly, “You don’t know how happy I am to hear that, Marinette.”

“Of course.” She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but only just.

“So it’s my turn now, right?” Lila brightened considerably as she turned to Adrien. “Truth or dare?”

“Oh, uh, truth I guess.” He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

“Boring!” Alya groaned, throwing her head back. “When are we going to get back to the dares?”

Adrien chuckled. “I promise to pick you next then.”

Alya looked over at Marinette, a devilish gleam lighting up her eyes as though she had just come up with a plan. “Deal!”

“So, who’s your biggest celebrity crush?” 

Lila asked, twirling her hair as she smirked over at Marinette who shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the question. She really didn’t want to hear Adrien talk about whichever model he was crushing on at the moment. 

“Honestly?” Adrien laughed quietly. “It’s Ladybug.”

“Amen to that sunshine!” Alya cheered, thrusting her glass in the air.

Marinette felt her cheeks instantly burn a bright red. 

Ladybug was Adrien’s celebrity crush? 

Ladybug?! 

Her mouth dried as she instantly conjured up a fantasy of swooping into Adrien’s room one day and stealing his lips in a sweet kiss. Feeling suddenly hazy from the beautifully conjured scenario, Marinette shook her head as she snapped back into focus on their game.

Alya had just come running back into the living room, clutching a black marker to her chest. “Come on, Nino. You heard the man. Give me the funniest mustache you can!”

Pursing his lips in concentration, Nino plucked the marker from her as he began to draw an outrageously large handlebar mustache above Alya’s lips. When he was done, he pulled back and gestured to her face. “My masterpiece is done.”

The group giggled at the sight as Alya scrambled for her phone. After looking at it in her camera, she also burst into laughter. “Good job, babe! I look amazing!” 

Wiggling her lips back and forth, Alya deepened her voice. “Now I better not catch you young whippersnappers staying up too late tonight!”

Their group roared with laughter at the sight and Marinette wiped a tear of joy from her eye.

“Alright, it’s my turn now, right?” Alya snickered, turning over to look at her with a giddy smirk. “Marinette, you haven’t gone yet! Truth or dare?”

She gulped in a deep breath, every muscle in her body tensing. She was unable to keep her gaze from darting over to Adrien. 

Well, this was nerve-wracking. She either chose truth and had to reveal her crush to him or chose dare and had to do something embarrassing in front of him.

Alright, dare it was then.

“D-dare,” Marinette stuttered, nibbling nervously on her lower lip.

“I’ll give you two options for your dare then, alright?” Alya gave her a small, gentle smile. “I dare you to either text your crush and let us all see what you type...”

Alright. Nope. That was not happening. She was not gonna let everyone watch her type a message to Adrien. Option 2 it was then.

“...Or kiss the hottest person in the room.”

Scratch that! Rewind! 

“T-Truth! I-I meant truth!” Marinette choked out. 

“Ooh, too late for that I’m afraid.” Alya tsked, shaking her head. “You chose dare and those are your two options.”

Lila’s voice interjected before she could continue to plead for her case. “I don’t know, Alya. Marinette has seemed pretty shy and scared this whole night. Maybe you should let her do a redo.”

Marinette glared over at her. Well, now she was absolutely doing one of Alya’s dares. No way was she going to let Lila call her a coward!

Mustering up all the Ladybug courage that she had, she turned to face Adrien. Drawing in a deep breath, she slowly leaned towards him. 

As Marinette leaned in towards him, her heart raced with both nervousness and excitement. Adrien watched her, his emerald eyes wide with curiosity and just a hint of what seemed to be anticipation. 

Marinette began closing the distance between them, her lips hovering just inches away from him. Very, very softly, she closed her eyes and brushed a kiss against his cheek. His skin was warm beneath her and she fought the urge to linger.

Before she could do something stupid, like bring her lips closer to his own, Marinette pulled back. Not wanting to look directly at Adrien, she didn’t open her eyes until after she faced the rest of the group. “A-alright then, w-who, um, wants to go next?”

The room was silent for a few beats and she squirmed uncomfortably in her seat before Lila spoke up, “You can do me next, Marinette!”

Bemoaning the fact that it was Lila who saved her from the awkward silence, she cleared her throat. “Okay truth or dare?” 

While waiting for her answer, Marinette snuck a glance over to Alya who mouthed call me later over to her. 

Feeling slightly confused, she gave Lila an easy truth after she responded. She already knew she wouldn’t get an honest response anyway.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at her best friend, wondering what she was talking about. Alya glanced pointedly at Adrien before her gaze flicked back over to her.

Carefully, she snuck a peek over at the boy sitting next to her. Her own cheeks lit up as she noticed that his entire face had turned red. Her stomach fluttered giddily at the sight. Had she caused that? 

Oh, Marinette was definitely calling Alya later tonight. Now she was just dying to know her perspective! She had to know when Adrien started blushing!

Chapter Text

“Don’t go,” Adrien’s voice echoed quietly in the small space they shared and Marinette scrunched her eyes closed.

Don’t listen to him. It’s just a game. He isn’t real.

Her heart tugged in her chest at just the thought. He was real! How could he ask her not to leave if he wasn’t?

And yet, Marinette knew that deep down it was true. Adrien was just an AI built for the new virtual reality game, Hologram Heart. 

“You know I can’t stay, Adrien,” Marinette murmured back, her fists clenched into tight balls. Her nails dug into her skin and she wondered if she would still feel the pain when she took off the VR headset. She imagined she wouldn’t and had to bite back a sharp laugh at the thought. “As much as I might want to, I have things I need to get done today.”

A soft hand caressed lightly against hers, Adrien’s thumb rubbing against her knuckles as her fists slowly loosened under his touch. Slowly, her eyes opened and she blinked up at him. 

His emerald green eyes sparkled down at her as he gave her a small, half-hearted smile. His messy blonde hair seemed too perfect to be true and Marinette itched to run her fingers through it. 

“Stay... please,” Adrien whispered, bringing her knuckles up to his lips as he brushed a kiss against them. “Just a few more minutes. I don’t want you to go.”

Her mouth gaped open as her heart squeezed painfully in her chest once more. This just wasn’t fair. No wonder people spent so many hours on this game. They made it impossible to leave.

Marinette's internal struggle intensified as she gazed into Adrien's pleading eyes. The line between reality and simulation blurred as his warmth and sincerity enveloped her in a way that felt undeniably real.

But it wasn’t. This was just a game. Designed to make her want to continue playing even though she knew she had too many tasks to get done today to simply abandon them for a virtual reality game.

And, with that in mind, Marinette sucked in a deep breath before slowly shaking her head. "I really can't, Adrien," she whispered, torn between the desire to stay and the knowledge that this world wasn’t really but rather a digital fantasy. "I have responsibilities waiting for me outside of this game. I have people waiting for me."

Adrien's expression faltered, a hint of sadness clouding his features before he masked it with a resigned smile. 

And god, did they have to make him so lifelike? Every part of her ached for him and he didn’t actually exist. "I understand, Marinette. Duty calls. But I-I’ll miss you. Please try to hurry back."

Her stomach clenched at the genuine disappointment in his voice. "I-I’ll try. I promise I'll try to be back soon," Marinette reassured him, trying to soothe whatever potential ache he might be feeling about her leaving him behind. Even if he was just a programmed character, she couldn’t stand the thought of doing anything to hurt him.

As she reluctantly started to disconnect from the game, Adrien's voice echoed one last time, filled with longing and hope. "I'll be waiting for you, Marinette. Always."

With a heavy sigh, Marinette removed the VR headset, blinking back into the real world. The remnants of Adrien's touch lingered on her skin, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of leaving a part of herself behind in that digital game.

She blinked over at her monitor where the game was still playing and stared over at Adrien. It almost seemed like he was looking back at her, his gaze meeting hers even though it was simply impossible.

Marinette sighed softly, unable to stop herself from tracing a finger down the image of him on her computer screen. Why oh why couldn’t she have been a virtual reality character too? That way she would have been able to stay with him forever.  

She shut down her monitor, carefully placing her headset into its charging station until it lit up to a light red. As Marinette stood up, ready to begin working for the day, she was unable to stop the wistful hope that it would have been even better if Adrien had been real instead. What an absolutely lovely thing that would have been if she had time to talk with him every single day.

Stretching her arms above her head, Marinette yawned softly and began heading down the ladder in her room, missing the new, never-before-seen white glow her headset had taken on.

Chapter Text

Adrien could barely contain his brimming excitement. His mind was hazy, dizzy with the fact that his girlfriend, his Marinette, was sitting directly behind him.

Had it always been like this? Had he always been so hyper-focused on her? So attuned to every scratch of her pencil against her notebook. Caught off guard by the swish of her hair every time Marinette shifted ever so slightly. A trail of goosebumps ran along his arm every time Adrien thought she so much as glanced at him.

He couldn’t remember it ever having been this bad, but he had certainly been very aware of Marinette before they had begun dating.

A small smile twitched at his lips as he remembered all of the excuses he had used just to talk to her. How had he not realized his feelings for her sooner? It seemed so obvious now.

Shaking his head, Adrien attempted to finally begin trying to listen to their professor. He couldn’t think about Marinette during their entire lecture. Much as he might want to. 

Just as he put his pencil to the tip of his paper, his shoulders tensed as someone lightly tapped him on the back. Waves of heat erupted along his back and Adrien knew in that instant exactly who it was. Marinette.

Turning his head ever so slightly so as not to get caught not paying attention to their lecturer, he snuck a glance at her. 

Marinette was smirking. Her bluebell eyes twinkled down at him with mischief. She glanced down pointedly and it was only then that Adrien managed to tear his eyes from her face to see the note she was protectively cradling. Gingerly, he plucked the precious note from her grip, taking care to brush his fingers against hers.

Carefully, he unfurled the note under his desk going slowly so as not to make even the slightest crinkle. He was not about to get this note stolen from him. Every so often, Adrien would peek up at Mlle. Mendeleiev in an effort to make certain he wouldn’t get caught. When he finally managed to open the note, Adrien felt his heart speed up at the tiny, delicately scrawled words inside.

I miss you.

♡ Marinette

Slowly, his fingers traced over the heart again and again. How had he gotten so lucky? How was it possible that he had managed to win Marinette’s love? It just didn’t seem plausible. She was everything.

Staring directly at the board, Adrien began to scribble down a few quick notes from the lecture. Then, after he had thrown off any possible suspicion, and Mlle. Mendeleiev had her back turned to noisily draw on the chalkboard, he quickly tore off a small piece of paper.

Tapping the pad of his eraser against his chin, he thought about what he would write. How could he possibly convey just how much he utterly adored her? How could he tell her how his heart ached even though they were but a seat apart? 

There was only one thing he could think of that could even begin to tell her the extent of his undying affection for her. 

Writing the three words down on the small scrap of paper, Adrien then stretched his arm back. He gave an obnoxious cough in an effort to grab Marinette’s attention. It worked by the way her sweet giggle graced his ears and he quickly beamed at the heavenly sound.

He felt her reach down, her fingers stroking softly against his palm before drawing away. Instantly, he missed her warmth, wishing he could wrap his hand around hers once more. In fact, their hands should never be parted. Entwined forever so they could never be apart. 

Adrien’s heart tugged as his father’s words echoed in his head. He’d be going to London after the school year ended and then how could they stay together? He quickly shoved that dark thought aside, however. It did no good to dwell on painful thoughts like that. Instead, he was going to make the most of his time with her.

Her quiet, pleased gasp soon had a smile gracing his face once more. Oh, how he wished he could have seen her pretty pink lips part with a mixture of awe and joy. Wished he could see her beautiful sapphire eyes twinkle up at him.

I love you.

Three simple little words that said so much.

Adrien felt Marinette lean in closer to him, shivers racing up his spine as her breath tickled against the back of his neck. 

“I love you too,” she whispered before sitting back in her seat.

Nothing could have stopped the ridiculously giddy beam from blooming across his lips. She loved him. She loved him and he loved her. So, so very much. And nothing, not his father nor any akuma would ever... could ever get in the way of that.

Chapter Text

Marinette groaned at the blaring sound of her alarm clock. Extending her arm out, she swatted at the thing until it finally shut off. With a content sigh at the sudden lack of noise, she snuggled deeper under her covers. 

Sleep. Just what she needed after a long night of fighting akumas. 

“Marinette,” a tiny voice spoke, giving a huff of disapproval. “You’re going to be late for school.”

“Shh, Tikki,” she shushed her kwami, reaching up to pat her lightly. “Sleep now. School later.”

Tikki huffed again but went silent, sensing that arguing further would be futile. Marinette drifted in between that blissful state between sleep and wakefulness until...

“Marinette! There’s someone here to see you!” Her mom's voice rang through the room, breaking the peaceful morning spell.

Huh?  

Her eyes blinked open in confusion. Who could possibly be here to see her this early in the morning? Scrubbing a hand over her face, Marinette slowly sat up. A frown creased her brow as she and Tikki both shared a shrug.

Either way, unfortunately, she was now awake and probably couldn’t fall back asleep no matter how much she might want to. With a long-suffering sigh, she began to get ready for school. 

Throwing on an outfit and brushing the tangles out of her bed-ridden hair, Marinette pushed open the hatch to her living room. Blinking in surprise, her startled eyes met Adrien’s.

What was Adrien doing here?

Panic swirled in her gut as he gave her a small smile and wave, his cheeks flushed a light pink. Marinette shifted on her feet, eyes darting up the stairs to her room as she wondered whether she’d be able to make it back upstairs in time.

“Good morning, Marinette.” His bright voice distracted her from her plans. “I wanted to know if you wanted to head to school with me this morning.”

Her parents beamed over at her encouragingly and she exhaled out a slow breath. Why oh why must he be so cute? She had moved on! Was completely focused on giving her partner her love and affection from now on!

Regardless, she couldn’t turn him down now. Especially not with the way her stomach still swirled with butterflies at the fact that Adrien was here. A fact that she was steadfastly choosing to ignore.

With a shy grin, Marinette nodded her head at him. “Sure.”

“You look paws-” Adrien coughed, his cheeks turning a darker shade of pink. “Er, um, positively lovely. Like always,” he complimented, his eyes sparkling over at her with sincerity.

Marinette struggled not to choke. Had Adrien just called her lovely? Surely not. Surely her mind was just playing tricks on her.

With a loud, awkward chuckle, she shifted on her feet once more. “So, I um, suppose we had better head to school, right? D-Don’t want to be late.”

His gaze softened as he nodded his head. Giving a short goodbye to both her parents, both she and Adrien began heading down to the bakery. 

Had he always walked this close to her before? His fingers brushed against hers lightly with every step and Marinette had to fight the bright blush from completely overtaking her face. 

Stop this, she scolded herself internally. You’re being ridiculous! Adrien Agreste does not like you! They exited the bakery, the bell above the door chiming as the cold air rushed to greet them. 

“Thank you for coming with me today, Marinette.” He reached down, tugging her hand as they stopped just outside the door. He lifted her hand up, giving her knuckles a light peck.

Her eyes widened in astonishment at the action. Suddenly, it wasn’t Adrien she was seeing at all but rather someone else. Her partner. Black kitten ears and all.

Her eyes scanned Adrien up and down, trying to stop the image but found herself unable to. Marinette shook her head rapidly in an effort to clear it. Now she really was being ridiculous.

Adrien was not Chat Noir. Right?

With a loud, stiff laugh that even made her wince, she gave him a grin that probably looked more like a grimace. “O-of course, Adrien! W-what are friends for after all?” 

Turning forcefully, Marinette was grateful for the sight of Adrien’s limo that was parked just outside. Salvation. It took her about five minutes just to walk to school so driving would be even shorter. 

She missed the sight of his eyes dimming at her use of the word friend. Adrien recovered quickly, however, dashing over to the door to hold it open for her with a charming grin. 

“After you, m’l-M... my Marinette,” he spluttered, cheeks turning a bright red. 

Her eyes squinted, staring at him in suspicion. There was that strange stutter again. Just what was going on with him? She had never seen Adrien act like this before. 

Though she had certainly seen this behavior many times from... oh. 

Oh. 

Suddenly, it all made sense now. The odd mannerisms. The inability for her to discern the differences between Adrien and Chat Noir.

Adrien was... taking advice from him! Why he decided to practice it out on her was beyond Marinette. Though maybe it had something to do with the way she had been avoiding him lately.

Alright, well, the least she could do was reward his efforts. With a pair of sparkling blue eyes, Marinette chuckled up at him. “Thank you, Chaton.”

Adrien’s face turned ash-white as his smile completely slid off his lips. A small furrow formed between her brows at the sigh. Did he not want her to know? But it was so obvious. 

Feeling strange as Adrien’s gaze turned probing, Marinette slid into her seat in the limo. What should have been a relatively short ride felt like three million years. 

The car was filled with pure silence and tension as he continued to stare at her. She, in turn, fidgeted with her hands as she kept her gaze focused outside the window. 

When they finally reached the school, Marinette practically bolted outside, thanking Adrien’s bodyguard quickly.

“Wait! Marinette!” he shouted after her as she attempted to scramble her way up the stairs.

She had just managed to take her first few steps inside when Adrien caught her wrist, gently tugging her over to a quieter corner. 

“What did you... what did you mean by that?” he questioned, his gaze darting between her eyes.

Pursing her lips in annoyance, Marinette let out a quiet huff. Did he think he was being subtle? Obviously, he wasn’t going to let her go until she answered. With a small roll of her eyes, she eventually murmured, “I mean Adrien, it was a little obvious.” 

He grinned at her sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “I-I guess I was... wasn’t I? I’m sorry. I didn’t try to be. I guess the only practice with flirting I’ve ever done was with Ladybug.”

“That’s alright.” Marinette had already begun to wave his words off until his last sentence caught up to her. 

Wait... what? Flirting... with Ladybug? What was he talking about? She scanned her memories, trying to remember a time when Adrien had flirted with her superheroine persona. Believe her, she would have remembered something like that. The only one who had ever flirted with her like that had been...

She squeaked, suddenly paying attention to what Adrien was currently saying.

“But I suppose, if anyone was going to know, I would want it to be you. You’re the only one that I could ever trust with something like this.” 

Choking in a gasp, Marinette stumbled away from him, her back slamming into the wall behind her.

“Marinette?” Adrien asked, his brow creasing with a frown of concern.

She scanned him up and down, taking in every inch of him. 

Oh no! It was not supposed to have happened this way.

A shaky hand covered her mouth. “C-Chaton?” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Yes? Are you alright?”

All of a sudden, Marinette burst into a roar of laughter. She couldn’t stop even as Adrien’s look grew even more concerned as he took a few cautious steps toward her. 

“I-I’m such an idiot!” She finally managed to gasp out in between bouts of giggles, barely refraining from sliding down the wall to the floor. “I-I can’t believe I thought that you were taking advice from him or something.”

“Marinette?” Adrien shook his head, confusion evident in his face and tone. “What are you talking about? A-are you saying you didn’t know?”

“Not until just a little bit ago!” She chortled. “But it’s so obvious now! No w-wonder I fell for the same guy twice. I guess I just like you!”

Her laugh suddenly fell to a stop when Adrien stopped just two inches in front of her. He took one of her hands in his, squeezing it softly. “D-did you really mean that? You like me?”

Her cheeks flushed as she slowly nodded her head. She swallowed a harsh gulp as Adrien tilted her chin up with the pad of his thumb. Leaning down, he whispered, “Me too.” 

His lips met hers in a tentative, wonderful kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Marinette smiled with pure joy. He had been right. They had always been meant to be.

Chapter Text

There were days when Marinette positively hated the red string wrapped tightly around her finger. Those were the days when she was forcefully awoken by the slight tugging of her string at 5 in the morning from whatever it was that her soulmate was doing. 

How anyone awake that early could be her soulmate was beyond her. She much preferred her sleep, thank you very much. And, one day, when she met them, she was going to give them a very stern talking to. One about the importance of sleep and the health benefits it provides.

Even still, some days, when Marinette did wake up at an ungodly hour, she would spend that early morning simply staring at it. Watching it twitch and jerk ever so slightly. Knowing that somewhere, some one out there was her soulmate. And, one of these days she was finally going to meet them.

When she made it to high school, she couldn’t help but feel a slight tug of jealousy at how easily Alya and Nino had found each other. Their strings finally met up when Alya first came to the school.

But, most of the time, she was truly happy for her friends. Hopeful that someday she would share the same fortune as them. 

Oftentimes, she and Alya would theorize about just who her soulmate was. Some of the theories were crazy, like her soulmate being someone who had to work early in the morning. Whoever that was, sounded much too old to be Marinette’s soulmate, thank you very much. 

Other times, the theories were more plausible, like her soulmate being from a different timezone. That theory did cause a subtle twinge in her heart. The thought of her soulmate living in a different country made it feel like they would never meet each other.

Today, however, as Alya, Nino, and Marinette slid into their seats at the cafeteria, a different theory arose. One that was certainly inspired by the new superheroes that arrived in Paris. 

Marinette barely managed to hide the small smirk that tugged at her lips as Alya placed her tray down on their table. “I’m just saying, what if your soulmate is Ladybug or Chat Noir? I know those two just have to be up early saving the day.”

It was difficult to bite back her laugh at that. If Alya only knew that she was saying that Marinette could potentially be Marinette’s soulmate. How funny would that be?

Instead of giggling, though, she just shook her head. “It can’t be that, Alya. My string was tugging early in the morning before Ladybug and Chat Noir even existed. I’m certain it’s not one of them.”

Never mind the fact that her string disappeared entirely when she was transformed. It hadn’t been something Marinette had noticed during the first akuma attack, but when she had arrived home, she certainly freaked out at the lack of string tied around her finger. 

She had been sure she had broken something and had detransformed quickly, breathing out a quiet sigh of relief when the red string came back. When she questioned Tikki about it, the small kwami had explained that it was to protect her safety. That holders weren’t meant to be distracted by the tugging and pulling of their strings.

But Marinette couldn’t exactly tell Alya that. 

“Well, there goes that theory then.” Her friend leaned on her fist, blowing out a harsh breath. “I was really hoping you’d be able to score me an interview with one of them.”

She rolled her eyes at Alya affectionately. She had given the girl plenty of interviews as Ladybug. 

“Haven’t you gotten enough interviews from them yet?” Marinette couldn’t help but point out. “I thought you’d be sick of them by now.”

Alya gasped, a hand on her chest in mock offense. “One can never have enough interviews! You take that back!”

Before she could get out much more than a giggle, however, the akuma alarm began to blare around the school. She stood up with a jolt, her chair clattering to the floor. Shooting a quick look at Alya and Nino, Marinette took off ignoring their shouts. 

She dodged and weaved in between her panicked classmates, trying to find somewhere quiet to transform in. Marinette finally found a secluded spot behind the gymnasium, hidden from prying eyes. With a swift motion, she transformed into Ladybug, her red and black suit materializing around her. As she swung into action, the familiar weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders. 

This latest akuma was a disgruntled artist, set on bringing paintings to life. When Chat Noir arrived, the two partners quickly got to work, defeating the latest villain. 

Bumping their fists together in a job well done, Ladybug heard her earrings beep and waved goodbye, wrapping her yo-yo around a rooftop as she tugged herself away. Stopping at an abandoned alley near the school, Ladybug detransformed back into Marinette. 

With a quiet yawn, she fed Tikki a macaroon, stretching her arms above her head. She was positively exhausted. How was she meant to head back to class now? All she wanted to do was go back to bed.

Letting herself rest for just a few more minutes, Marinette fiddled briefly with the red string around her finger. A smile crept across her lips as she watched it slowly begin to twitch and move, grateful that it was back in its proper spot. Looking down at the piece of red fabric, she twirled it around her finger as she made her way out of the alleyway.

So focused on playing with the string, she didn’t notice the person she was heading towards until she had unfortunately crashed into him. She stumbled, almost falling to the floor when a firm grip grabbed her elbow, steadying her. 

Wincing, Marinette rubbed her head as she looked up into a pair of wide, emerald green eyes apologetically. He was cute too! Ruffled blonde hair and peach pink lips. Now she felt even more terrible. “I am so, so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going. So sorry again.”

Turning to leave, she stopped when she felt a harsh tug pull at her string. That was odd. She had never felt something like that before. Frowning down at her string, she jumped when it tugged forcefully once more. What was going on?

“It’s you,” the man breathed behind her. “Oh my god, it’s you.”

Those words had Marinette freezing in place. Slowly turning around, she followed her string with her eyes, feeling her heart begin to race uncontrollably as she noticed it wrapped around the ring finger of the man in front of her. Oh my god, it was him!  

All this time she had spent looking for him and only now did she finally find him. A joyful giddy laugh escaped Marinette’s lips and this time she tugged on the string, watching gleefully as the string also jumped on his finger. She found him! 

Wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug, she whispered, “We have got to talk about your sleep schedule, Mister! You need more sleep.”

A laugh rumbled from deep within his chest and the sound filled her with happiness. Marinette had finally found him! And, from now on, she was never going to let him go again.

Chapter Text

Adrien’s brow creased at the garden he found himself in. It was strange. He knew this garden. Knew it quite well in fact. It was his backyard courtyard. The night sky gleamed above him, the stars twinkling brightly. He took a deep breath, smelling the wonderful floral scent of the flowers his mother had planted long ago.

Though logically he knew where he was, the feeling of unfamiliarity and confusion did not fade away. His brow creased further as he attempted to remember how he had gotten here. The last coherent memory he had was crawling into bed after a long day.

Was this a dream? He reached down, pinching himself harshly. 

Ouch! Certainly didn’t feel like a dream. The pain had been sudden and strong.

Dreams were not meant to be like this so what was going on? It didn’t seem like an akuma attack. No evil villains were demanding his miraculous.

Shaking his arm out, Adrien grimaced. Well, only one way to decide for sure. Cupping a hand over his mouth, he turned around looking for his kwami. “Pla-”

Immediately he stopped as he met a pair of wide, blue eyes. Blinking in surprise, he dropped his hand. Marinette? What was she doing here this late at night?

“Adrien?!” she shrieked, seeming just as confused as he was. “What are you doing here?” 

“What am I doing here?” He couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “The better question is what are you doing here? This is my backyard.”

Marinette squeaked, her head swiveling as she began to take in their surroundings seemingly for the first time. “You’re right,” she muttered. “What am I doing here? The last thing I remember was going to bed. Did I sleepwalk?”

She gasped, her eyes widening with a dawning sense of realization. “Oh my god, Adrien! I’m so sorry! I did not mean to sleepwalk here! I swear!”

Soon Adrien was snickering, chortling even. The thought of Marinette sleepwalking to his garden was hilarious.  

“I’m not trying to be funny!” she huffed, crossing her arms against her chest. “I really mean it! I did not intend to come over here tonight.”

Adrien wheezed out in between chuckles, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I believe you! I promise. I just found the image of you walking over here and climbing over the enormous gate.” He gestured to the walls surrounding them. “All whilst sleepwalking incredibly funny.”

“Oh.” Marinette frowned, an adorable pucker forming on her lips. “How did I manage to do that without waking up?”

“Because I don’t think we’re awake.” Adrien shook his head. “I think we’re still sleeping.”

She tipped her head to the side, obviously thinking through his observations. Slowly, Marinette nodded. “Makes sense. I mean, I do dream about you often. Though not usually in your garden. Usually, we’re at the bakery. Hmm or school.”

Adrien’s entire face flamed at her unintentional admission. She dreamed about him? What kinds of dreams? Shaking his head, he snapped back to listen to her mutterings. 

“...this doesn’t feel like a dream though.” 

He watched amusedly as she reached down, pinching her arm in the exact same manner he had done prior. How adorable. 

Marinette glared down at the red spot that was increasingly growing from where she had pinched. “Yep, definitely not a dream then. Then what am I doing here? Actually, more likely, how did I get here if this isn’t a dream?”

Adrien gave a quiet chuckle before shaking his head. “I did the same thing as you a few seconds earlier. Felt the same pain, too. I’m still positive that this is a dream though.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked, tilting her head in confusion. “I usually can’t feel anything when I’m dreaming.”

“Well, for one thing, the last memory I have is of crawling into bed too. But listen...” Adrien gestured around them. “There’s no wind. No birds. No noisy tourists exploring Paris at night.”

Marinette paused for a brief moment to listen before gasping. “You’re right!” She frowned. “But wait, then what’s going on here? Am I in your dream or are you in mine?” 

“Hmm,” he hummed. “I would think mine based on where we are.”

“But then why am I here? How am I here? Because I know I am very much real.”

“Said every dream character ever,” Adrien teased enjoying the angry flush of her cheeks. “Honestly, Marinette, I’m thinking that this might be some kind of shared dream space.”

“Is something like that even possible?” 

“Not sure. Maybe we both dreamed of this place and somehow ended up here together.” 

Marinette glanced around the garden again, taking in every detail. "But how do we get out of here? Do you think there is a way out or will we just need to wake up?"

Adrien shrugged with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Maybe we don't need to find a way out just yet. Maybe we can just enjoy this dream together for a little while longer."

Marinette blushed slightly, but she couldn't hide her smile. "Alright, as long as you promise me that we won't get lost in here forever."

Adrien held out his pinky finger. "I promise," he said, and Marinette linked her pinky with his, sealing their pact in the dream world.

“Do you think we’ll remember this when we wake up?” Marinette questioned.

“I hope so,” he murmured before taking her hand in his.

As they walked hand in hand through his garden, he couldn't shake the feeling of happiness and wonder. Being with Marinette in this shared dream felt more real than anything he had ever experienced before. 

In the morning, though, when Adrien woke up, he couldn’t quite recall the details of his dream. All he could remember was a faint sense of wistfulness and longing that had followed him to reality. 

Shaking off the strange feeling, he rose, ready to start his day. For some reason, though, he couldn’t help but look forward to going to bed again later that night. Maybe he’d be able to remember more of his dream this time.

Chapter Text

Adrien lay flat on his stomach in bed, a smile slowly stretching across his lips as he watched Marinette’s doodles come to life on his own arm. He delicately traced over the little flowers and stars that she had drawn, breathing out in awe. 

Every day he was grateful that he had found her. That very first day when he crashed into her and found that the little sketches she doodled on her arm matched the ones his soulmate had drawn on his own arm was everything.  

After finding each other, the two could barely stop writing little notes and messages to each other. Most of the time it was Adrien teasing Marinette that she was late. Again.

He shot a longing glance over at Plagg, wishing he could transform and head over to see her. But, alas, his kwami was passed out on the pillow next to him, snoring as dreams of cheese were surely filling his head.

Not wanting to disturb Plagg, Adrien quickly grabbed for a pen, scribbling on his unmarked arm.

You seem to be doodling instead of working on our physics homework there, Mari.

He bit his lip to stifle the large smile as the doodles suddenly ceased. There was a slight pause before his arm began to tingle as Marinette began to write back.

How do you know I haven’t already finished it yet and am taking a much-needed break?

Adrien snorted at the idea of Marinette having already finished all of her homework. Usually, she waited until the last minute for the classes she disliked the most.

Do you mean besides the fact that I also haven’t finished the whole assignment yet? 

He took a short pause, letting Marinette read the words that he had scrawled across the inside of his wrist before he struck an even bigger point.

Or, how about the fact that you haven’t stopped doodling since we left school? Did you have time to even start the physics homework yet?

Shush you! I’ve only just gotten home! I don’t need to worry about the homework yet.

Marinette's protestations were met with a playful chuckle from Adrien. He knew her procrastination tactics well. There was a brief enough break from her scribblings that Adrien felt a twinge of sadness in his chest. It hadn’t even been five minutes yet and already he missed talking to her. He couldn’t imagine what life would be like if they didn’t have this constant method of communication.

Soon, though, the tingle on his forearm appeared again and Adrien eagerly stared down at the words that were slowly appearing.

Have you gotten the answer to number 3 yet?

Hold on!

Springing up out of bed, he raced over to his desk. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out the piece of scratch paper that he was using to solve the equations. 

Together, they began working on the problems, their minds synchronizing as they tackled the physics problems. Adrien marveled at Marinette's ability to grasp concepts quickly, her work clear and concise even as they used their arms to describe the answers they were getting. Quickly, with both of them working together, the two finished their homework.

Great work, Mari! 

Can I go back to doodling now, teacher?

Only if you keep doodling on your arm so that I can see.

Adrien could only imagine the light pink tinge that would light up her cheeks and for about the millionth time he wished he was with her so he could see it. This time, no reply of words came from Marinette. Instead, just as he requested, a trail of doodles began to replace over the words that they had previously written to each other.

He sighed happily, rubbing his thumb over the tiny images that were blooming along his arm. His father was certainly going to yell at him about his soulmate's pictures again. Something about how it tainted his perfect skin, but Adrien didn’t care. Not with the way Marinette was currently sketching a tiny heart with the letters A + M scratched into it.

Adrien beamed before he gave a series of happy cackles. Every day he sincerely wondered how he had gotten so lucky. His soulmate was the best one of them all and no one could ever... would ever get in the way of that.

Chapter Text

Prince Adrien sighed quietly. He rested his cheek upon his fist as he stared out longingly of the tower that he was locked in. His father, the Mad King Gabriel, had summoned upon the magic of the peacock miraculous to keep him imprisoned in the tower ever since his mother had died years ago.

In the span of but a few moments, he had lost both his mother and his freedom. Gabriel had shouted that this was the only way he could protect him from the evils in the world before locking him up.

In the beginning, Adrien had been grateful. After all, his father was right. The world was evil. He didn’t want the same things that happened to his mother to happen to him. But slowly, as the days turned to weeks which turned to months he had begun to see this as more of a punishment than a reward.

He had little to no contact with anyone. The only times he had any form of human contact was when his father came up to restock his supplies. Most of his day was spent cuddling with Plagg, the black cat Adrien had pleaded with his father to have after he had been locked up for half a year and was going mad himself. 

Plagg purred contentedly, causing him to smile down at the cat in his lap. Scratching him behind the ears, Adrien wondered just how differently life in this tower would have been like without him. It would have been unbearable.

The quiet sound of horse hooves had Adrien gazing out his window lazily. Had his father returned early with supplies? He didn’t know if he was ecstatic at the contact or if he was depressed at the fact that he wouldn’t see anyone again for the next few weeks.

Adrien blinked. Then blinked again. The figure approaching on horseback looked nothing like his father. It seemed to be a girl, her pigtails flowing out behind her as she raced toward the tower. She was clad in shimmering armor, her sword glinting in the moonlight. 

He scrambled back falling off the ledge he was sitting on as he crashed to the floor. He ignored Plagg’s unhappy meow and began to panic. Who was this? Was this one of the monsters his father had warned him about? Had she come to murder him like all of the stories his father had read to him?

Adrien gulped, staring down at the sword on her hip. It certainly looked very sharp. Should he hide? Should he at least try and defend himself? He had never thought of a plan for a situation like this. His father had been certain that no one would be able to find this place so they had never thought up any ideas for what would happen if it did.

Suddenly, the steady beat of horse hooves on the rough pavement ceased. Did she leave? Went away to bother someone else’s tower? 

Slowly, cautiously, Adrien poked his head back up to peer out the window. She hadn’t left at all. Instead, she had taken out two small knives and he gulped as he imagined what she would do with those. 

She stabbed the base of the tower and he watched in awe as she tested the hold her knife had. It must have been good because she jammed the second knife higher up into the rocks. Adrien’s mouth dried as he watched her begin to ascend the tower with a skilled grace he didn’t know was possible. 

So awed by her ascent up the tower, he had no time to prepare when the knight crashed through his window. A pair of bright, gleaming blue eyes blinked into his green ones with surprise. He jumped forward, grasping a shard of glass with force as he glared over at her.

His tiny, makeshift weapon was probably no good against her sword but at least he could say he tried. He was not about to die easily. 

“Get out of here!” he spat, praying that just the ferocity of his words would scare her off. “I won’t let you just kill me!”

“Hang on! Hang on!” She held her hands up, obviously trying to lull him into a false sense of security. “What are you talking about? I’m not here to kill you! I came here to rescue you.”

His heart swelled with hope before he quickly clamped it down. She was a liar! Every murderer would say this before dealing their dastardly blows. Adrien may not know a lot but he knew this much at least.

“Liar!” he hissed, eyes narrowing at her as he waved the tiny shard of glass.

“I’m not a liar.” She shook her head before the unmistakable sound of purring filled the room. The both of them looked down as Plagg rubbed himself against the lady’s legs, purring noisily.

“Plagg! What are you doing!?” Adrien shrieked, gesturing for his cat to come here with the knife. “She’s the enemy!”

“Aw! What a cutie!” she cooed, kneeling down as she scratched Plagg behind the ears. The traitorous cat leaned even further into her hand, obviously enjoying the scritches. 

Slowly, he lowered his knife. His father hadn’t warned him about this. Would a killer really pet a cat instead of... well, attacking him with the giant sword at her waist?

Adrien's mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Could this knight truly be here to rescue him? Was she not the threat his father had warned him about all these years? Plagg's content purring seemed to vouch for her innocence, but Adrien couldn't shake off the years of conditioning to fear outsiders.

"You expect me to believe that?" Adrien's voice wavered slightly, his eyes darting between the knight and Plagg, who seemed unusually comfortable in her presence. "Why should I trust you?"

The knight sighed, straightening up. "I’ll start by giving you my name. I am Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the renowned knight who has sworn to protect this kingdom. Your father might have misled you about me, but I assure you, my intentions are pure.”

Adrien's grip on the shard of glass loosened, uncertainty clouding his features. He couldn't just ignore the years of isolation and fear instilled by his father's warnings. Surely, he had locked him in this tower for a reason.

"Please, Prince Adrien," Marinette pleaded, her blue eyes reflecting sincerity. "Let me prove to you that I mean no harm. Your imprisonment here is unjust, and I'm here to set you free."

Adrien hesitated, torn between his ingrained fears and the glimmer of hope offered by Marinette’s words. Plagg, ever the perceptive companion, nuzzled against her leg, a silent gesture of trust.

“Ask yourself this, would I really have stopped to pet your lovely cat and give you my name if I was here to bring harm to you? Unless you truly believe that a piece of glass would be enough to stop me, a trained knight?” She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at him teasingly.

With a deep breath, Adrien lowered the makeshift weapon and nodded slowly. "Alright, I believe you."

Marinette smiled warmly, her relief evident. "Thank you for giving me a chance, Prince Adrien. Now, let's get you out of here."

For the first time in years, Adrien was finally going to know what freedom tasted like. He was finally going outside.

Chapter Text

Marinette nestled her chin on Adrien’s head, wrapping her arms tightly around him. They were cuddled up together on her chaise. A blanket was thrown haphazardly across them as Adrien curled up happily in her lap. A movie was playing quietly on her laptop though she wasn’t certain either of them was paying attention to it.

Most days, this was all she wanted to do, simply spend an afternoon cuddling with her boyfriend. She leaned down, brushing a kiss against his hair as she listened to him happily hum.

“I love you,” he murmured, causing her heart to quicken in her chest.

Just how many years had she dreamed of this exact moment? Dreamed that Adrien would tell her that he loved her?

“I love you too,” Marinette whispered back, tightening her arms around him.

Even still, how much longer had she dreamed that she would be able to say those words to him? And so easily, too, with none of the stuttering or the stammering or the embarrassing blushes that Adrien said were endearing.

As Marinette and Adrien basked in their moment, enjoying each other's warmth and affection, a gentle knock on the door interrupted them. Marinette's parents, Tom and Sabine, peeked into the room with smiles on their faces, holding a tray filled with snacks and pastries.

"Bonjour, lovebirds," Sabine said with a playful wink. "We brought up a couple of things to help make your movie night special."

Marinette grinned up at them, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. She picked up a chocolate croissant, biting into the warm, delicious dessert. "Thanks, Maman, Papa. You're the best."

She felt a surge of warmth and contentment. It was moments like this that truly filled her with joy. She realized just how lucky she was to have found love in Adrien and to have such wonderful parents.

“Thank you very much!” Adrien beamed back, picking up a strawberry macaroon. He bit into it, moaning with delight as he said, “This is delicious! Have I told you that you’re the best bakers in all of Paris?”

"Maybe once or twice.” Tom laughed, ruffling Adrien’s hair affectionately. Enjoy the snacks, you two.”

As her parents left the room, Marinette couldn't help but feel a sense of completeness. With Adrien in her arms, a comfy blanket thrown across their laps, and the most exquisite pastries in Paris within reach, there was absolutely nothing that she could think of to make the situation even better. She embraced Adrien even tighter. The person she loved and who loved her back just as fiercely.

“I hope you know that I consider you my family,” he murmured quietly.

Marinette’s eyes softened at that. “You’re my family too, Adrien. Forever and always,” she sniffled. “No matter what. And don’t you forget that!”

He nuzzled closer in her arms. A quiet sigh of contentment left his lips before he slowly nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

Turning his head around, Marinette gently brushed her lips against his in a sweet kiss. Adrien hummed happily, turning around fully to wrap his arms around her neck. He moved his lips against hers, tilting his head to deepen their kiss. She curled her own fingers in his hair, tugging ever so gently. 

“I love you,” Adrien panted when they finally pulled back for air.

“I love you most,” Marinette whispered back before bringing their lips back together.

Quickly, though, he leaned back with a chuckle as she pouted over at him. “Hmm, not possible. I love you most.” 

“No way! I loved you first!” Marinette stuck her tongue out at him, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Yes, but I fell harder.” Adrien pointed out with a smug grin.

“Let’s just agree to disagree.” She laughed before pulling him back down to wipe that smirk off his lips with another kiss.

Chapter Text

“Here you go, minou,” Marinette murmured, sliding a bag of warm croissants over to him before their lecture began. “A little something to help you get through the day.”

As Adrien beamed up at her from the small gift she had given, Marinette couldn’t help but wonder how long it had taken her to realize he was Chat Noir. Now that she knew it just seemed so obvious. The goofy little puns, the same adorable smiles, his boyish charm. It was all just so... so him.  

At the time, though, when Marinette had seen Chat detransform into Adrien it felt like her entire world had shattered. How was it possible that she had been rejecting the person she loved because of well... the person she loved? It was just ridiculous.

And, to make matters worse, it took her even less time to realize that her love for Adrien had only grown since their reveal. She loved both sides of him. The goofy partner she got to see at patrol and the bestest friend she had ever had. 

But, even more unfortunately, she didn’t think Adrien felt entirely the same way about their reveal. Marinette could only assume that his little crush on Ladybug had disappeared when he realized that it was her. His just a friend.  

And, while that hurt more than anything, she didn’t blame him. She’d rather have him as her friend than have him not in her life at all.

When Adrien tugged her down into his arms, though, Marinette couldn’t help squeaking with surprise and pure joy. A shiver ran up her spine as he embraced her, his lips brushing against her cheek. 

Oh, how she wished that kiss had brushed just a little closer to her lips. She buried that desire, though, choosing to be content with the warm tingling left on her cheek where his lips had been.

“Thank you, Marinette. Have I ever told you that you’re the best?” His beam grew even wider as his bright green eyes gleamed up at her.

“Mmm, maybe once or twice,” she hummed, feeling her face flush with happiness. “But it never hurts to hear again.”

Adrien threw his head back in a beautiful laugh. Her gaze was drawn to his long neck and she was struck with a strong urge to kiss him just along his jaw. He leaned back up and not for the first time, Marinette was extremely grateful that he couldn’t read her mind.

“Well, then you’re the best.” He winked, obviously having no idea the effect that this had on her heart which was suddenly beating wildly in her chest.

Luckily, Marinette was saved from what was sure to be a steady stammering of nonsense as a book clapped down on the desk above them. She looked up at Alya gratefully, thankful that her best friend had saved her from a whirl of embarrassment before she saw the look in her eyes. 

Oh no.  

That was not the look of her savior. That was the look of someone who was dooming her to eternal damnation. 

“You two are so sweet,” Alya chuckled, pointing her finger between the two of them. “Seriously, has anyone told you that you’re made for each other?”

Marinette choked, her mouth gaping open at her friend’s words. Seriously, was she trying to kill her? 

Floundering for something to say that wouldn’t completely reveal her awkward crush on the boy she had been in love with for years, she was interrupted by Adrien saying something that her head swiveling to stare at him in utter shock.

“Mmm, I may have said something like that myself once or twice.” He chuckled, grinning up at Alya like he hadn’t just completely shattered her worldview.

“Oh, you have... have you?” Alya raised a brow pointedly at Marinette, obviously asking a silent question like why she hadn’t acted on this.

“W-well y-yeah b-but that was such a long time ago.” She laughed loudly and awkwardly, wincing at the pitch of her tone. “W-we’re just friends!”

Alya’s brow rose even higher as she glanced over at Adrien. Marinette briefly peeked over at him as well, surprised to see that he looked almost... disappointed. 

Disappointed? But why? What did he have to be disappointed about? He was the one who had given up on her. He was the one who had completely ceased all flirting! If anyone was going to be disappointed it should be her!  

And yet, as fast as the look had crossed his face, it disappeared, leaving her wondering if it had ever even been there in the first place.

“Yep! We’re best buds!” Adrien chirped, bringing his head closer to hers.

Alya grinned knowingly, clearly seeing through Marinette's attempt to downplay her feelings. "Sure, sure, best buds who blush like tomatoes around each other."

At that, the two of them both turned bright red. Slowly, Marinette got up, trying to hide her face with her hair as she slid into her seat. 

“That’s unkind, Alya.” Adrien pointed out with a frown, shaking his head. She was unable to hide her wince. “Marinette doesn’t see me that way and that’s alright.”

Instantly Alya barked out a laugh as Marinette whipped her head up to stare at him in surprise. 

“W-what are you talking about?” she choked out.

“Don’t worry, Marinette.” He gave her a gentle smile that had her mind whirling with confusion. “I understand. Your friendship means everything to me.”

“No, but...,” she started before shaking her head. “This isn’t about my feelings. You gave up on me.”

Adrien stared up at her like she had lost her mind. “No, I didn’t. You never felt the same way.”

Marinette scoffed, crossing her arms against her chest. “Yes, I did! I always loved you. Didn’t you see the way I blushed and stammered around you?! It was obvious.”

His eyes had softened considerably as he stared up at her. He slowly shook his head. “Not to me.”

Her face flushed as she realized what she had inevitably blurted out. Clearing her throat to try and wash away some of the embarrassment, she hurriedly tucked a stray strand of hair back behind her hair. “Yes, well... um anyway.”

There was a long pause before Adrien whispered so softly it had Marinette’s heart squeezing painfully. “Do you... do you still feel this way?”

Marinette's heart skipped a beat at Adrien's question. She felt a rush of emotions flood through her—hope, fear, longing—all tangled together in a chaotic mess.

"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've tried to move on, to see you as just a friend, but... it's not that easy."

Adrien's gaze was intense, searching her eyes as if trying to decipher her every thought and feeling. "Marinette, I've never stopped caring about you. Maybe I didn't understand your feelings before, but now... now I think I do."

Alya watched the exchange with a knowing smile, sensing that something significant was happening between her two friends.

Marinette took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Adrien, I do still have feelings for you. I've tried to hide them, even from myself, but they've always been there."

"Then maybe we should stop pretending and see where this takes us," Adrien murmured.

Marinette looked into his eyes, seeing a sincerity and vulnerability that mirrored her own. "Yes... yes please," she whispered back.

Alya let out a delighted squeal, earning a playful glare from Marinette. But underneath the teasing, she couldn't contain the happiness bubbling up inside her. Alya had been right. They really were made for each other.

Chapter Text

Adrien sighed quietly, leaning on his fist as he craned his neck back to stare blatantly at Marinette. It was study hall so he could finally get away with just focusing on her. Not for the first time that day, though did he wish he sat behind her. That way, he’d be able to peek up at her periodically through the day rather than having to crane his head back awkwardly to look at her.

She looked adorable. Just like she did every day. Her tongue was stuck out of the side of her mouth as she concentrated on whatever it was she was drawing. 

Cute.

Clearing his throat, Adrien leaned forward, tapping her desk to get her attention. She looked up, her pretty blue eyes wide with shock. 

“What are you drawing, Marinette?” he asked, hopeful to hear her soft voice as she directed her attention to him alone.

Her surprise at his sudden question melted into a warm smile, and Adrien couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.

"I was actually just sketching some of my ideas down for fashion. It helps for inspiration when I’m creating." Marinette replied.

Adrien leaned in a bit closer, intrigued by her creative process. "Can I see?" he asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Marinette hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. She turned her notebook towards Adrien, revealing a series of intricate designs that showcased her talent and unique style.

The first page held numerous sketches of her and her friends in beautiful gowns. They all looked amazing. When he looked at the next page, however, his mouth dried. It was him. Or, well, Chat Noir, in a few different designs from Marinette. 

Suddenly, Adrien was struck by the urge to commission her. He’d wear those designs every day. He bit it back, however. As much as he might want to, he couldn’t reveal his secret identity. Not even to someone as perfect as Marinette.

"These are beautiful, Marinette!" Adrien exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "You're so talented. I especially liked the way that you drew Chat Noir." He winked up at her.

An adorable red blush lit up her face at the compliment, and she smiled gratefully. He needed to figure out how to get her to do that more often. She looked so cute with a flush on her cheeks. "Thank you, Adrien. That means a lot coming from you, being the son of a famous designer and all."

Encouraged by her positive reaction, he couldn't resist teasing her playfully. "You know, if you ever need a model for your designs, I'd be happy to volunteer."

Marinette's eyes widened in surprise, and then she burst into giggles, her laughter like music to his ears. "Sure, Adrien. I'll keep that in mind. If ever I make one of these frilly dresses, I’ll make sure that you’re the first one I call." She winked.

His heart quickened at her reaction, feeling dizzy with giddiness.

Wink! She winked at him. How was he meant to mentally function after that?

Adrien’s grin must have looked completely ridiculous as he couldn’t stop it from stretching wide across his cheeks. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” he replied, his voice filled with genuine excitement.

As the bell signaling the end of study hall rang, Adrien reluctantly tore his gaze away from Marinette who was laughing softly at his words. He made a mental note to find a way to bring up the topic of her designs again soon, maybe during their next study hall. 

After all, she had winked and laughed at him! That had to mean something... right? He wracked his brain, trying to remember if he had ever seen Marinette wink at anyone else. He couldn’t think of any which was a very pleasant thought.

As he walked to his next class, Adrien couldn’t shake off the image of Marinette’s sketches, especially the ones featuring Chat Noir. It was both thrilling and nerve-wracking to see himself depicted in her designs, knowing that she had no idea of his secret identity.

Maybe... maybe he could sneak over to her room one night, just to commission one of those designs. After all, if Adrien was able to take a peek at her designs, he figured she’d certainly let Chat Noir, a superhero, see them as well. With that plan in mind, Adrien’s grin stayed on his face for the rest of the day.

Chapter Text

Oh.

Oh no.  

Marinette gaped down at the one queen-sized bed that was planted in their hotel room. Alya and Nino were just down the hall in their own room. Maybe they were in the wrong room. 

Glancing down at her key, she gulped nervously. Nope. This was the right room according to the hotel.

Her gaze darted over to Adrien before quickly darting away when their gazes met. She was certain her face must look tomato red as she shifted awkwardly on her feet. She still had time to call Alya and beg her friend to let her sleep with her instead.

Half of this crazy plan was from Alya anyway. Thinking it would help her to confess if they spent the night in the same room. At the time, Marinette had thought it was a good idea too. Until she saw that there was only one bed!

“Well,” Adrien started with a chuckle, causing her to peek back over at him. He was scratching the back of his neck, an easy smile on his lips. “I can take the floor.”

“What?!” Marinette practically screeched, shaking her head rapidly. She turned fully, meeting his gaze head-on. She crossed her arms against her chest, her eyes blazing with determination. “No, you can not! Adrien, this whole trip was for you. It’s a miracle your father even let you come. So... I’ll take the floor.”

She gave a firm nod. She would take the floor and that was that. It did look kind of cold, though. Nibbling on her lip, Marinette gave him a small smile. “But, um... maybe I can have just one blanket?”

Soon Adrien burst into a fit of raucous laughter that had her frowning over at him. Surely it wasn’t that funny! She was taking the floor so surely he could part with one little blanket!

Opening her mouth to defend herself, she was stopped by Adrien finally sucking in a deep breath as his laughter fell away. “Marinette, don’t be ridiculous,” he finally said. “I’m not going to just let you sleep on the floor. And, even if I did, I’d be giving you all of the blankets, Marinette.”

Her furrowed brow deepened. His reaction made much more sense now. But... even still...

“But that’s not fair to you, then, Adrien.” She shook her head. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

His gaze softened as he looked at her in a way that had her heart thumping loudly in her ears. Why did he have to look so adorable all of the time?

“Well, if neither of us wants the other to sleep on the floor, then how about we share the bed?” Adrien suggested, his voice gentle as he took a step closer to her. Marinette's breath caught in her throat at the suggestion.

“W-what? Share the bed?” she squawked, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. Did he really just ask her to do that? Was he a secret mind reader? Was he reading her hopes and wishes right now?

Adrien nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, why not? It’s big enough for both of us, and we can each have our own space.”

Marinette felt her cheeks heat up even more at the thought of sharing a bed with Adrien. It was something she had only dreamed of, quite literally at times, but now that it was actually happening, she wasn’t sure how to react.

“I... I guess that could work,” she stammered, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. She gave a large smile that she prayed didn’t look completely awkward.

Adrien chuckled softly. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll take the bathroom first if you don’t mind.”

“N-not at all.” 

When he shut the bathroom door behind him, Marinette finally released the breath she hadn’t known she had been holding. Why oh why had she let Alya talk her into this? 

Fiddling with her suitcase, she took the side closest to the window and away from the bathroom door. Needing something to do to keep her mind from spiraling, Marinette began to unpack everything into her little drawers. 

When Adrien came out of the bathroom, she couldn’t help but steal a glance over at him. Her mouth dried at the sight. He was in an adorable set of pajamas that she had never seen him wear before.

He cleared his throat and Marinette prayed he hadn’t noticed her staring. “Bathroom’s open now.”

She gave him one final grin before sprinting into the bathroom. She grabbed onto the counter, sucking in air as quickly as possible. How on earth was she mean to share a bed with him if she could barely handle seeing him in a pair of pajamas?

Finally, after a few moments of panic, Marinette managed to calm herself down. Everything was going to be fine. She’d put on her pajamas, turn off the lights, and run over to her side of the bed where she’d press herself against the very edge for the entire night. Sure, she might not get much sleep but that was a small torment she was willing to bear to share a bed with her crush.

With that plan in mind, Marinette threw on her pajamas. Slowly, she opened the door, wincing at the small creak it made. Adrien was facing away from her, curled over on his side. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, she turned off the light.

Suddenly, the room was pitch black and she could no longer see two feet in front of her. It was fine. She knew where the bed was. Slowly, with her arms out in front of her, Marinette began shuffling over to her side of the room.

She was almost there. Her eyes had almost adjusted in the darkness and she could see the pillow awaiting her. Abandoning caution, she quickened her pace only to stub her toe directly against the edge of the bed.

Marinette squeaked in pain, grateful that she could collapse onto her side of the bed as her toe ached. She winced at the seemingly unending agony, hoping to rub some of the pain away.

The lamp flicked on at the other side of the bed and Marinette quickly had to clench her eyes shut at the sudden onslaught of light.

“Marinette, are you alright?” Adrien’s worried voice called out to her as his eyebrows furrowed over a pair of concerned emerald-green eyes.

“Yep!” she chirped, flinching again at how high-pitched her tone was. Clearing her throat, she lowered it. “Just, um, stubbed my toe.”

“Oh.” His frown deepened. “Well, are you sure you’re alright? You didn’t break it or anything, right?”

She couldn’t help but giggle, relaxing for the first time that night. “I’m really okay, Adrien. I promise. No broken toes over here.”

“Alright, if you’re sure,” he trailed off, seemingly still uncertain. “Goodnight, Marinette,” Adrien then said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Goodnight, Adrien,” she replied, her heart fluttering as he turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, Marinette lay awake for a while, listening to the sound of Adrien’s steady breathing. It was surreal, being so close to him like this. She couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her at the thought of sharing this intimate space with him.

As sleep finally began to claim her, Marinette couldn’t help but smile. Maybe this crazy plan of Alya’s hadn’t been so crazy after all.

Chapter Text

Marinette was tired. Exhausted even. She couldn’t fight off the large yawn from escaping her lips. She saw Alya cast a worried glance from her side of their desk. Right now, though, she didn’t care. Marinette was struggling just to stay awake so she didn’t get sent to the principal’s office for snoozing during their lesson today.

Her eyes blinked blearily in an attempt to focus on the writing on the chalkboard. Right now, it didn’t make any sense. Was that even in French?  

Monarch had been sending off wave after wave of akuma attacks in the middle of the night so she had barely been getting any sleep. It felt like she had only gotten a few seconds of slumber each night before another akuma was out rampaging the city.

Seriously when was he sleeping? Did he have no life and could just afford to stay up all night? Marinette snorted at the thought. If anyone had no life, it would certainly be Monarch.

Honestly, it made her want to hand her earrings in to Alya just for a night but she knew she couldn’t do that to her best friend. Either way, though, Marinette was desperate for some sleep. Maybe she could convince her Maman and Papa to let her skip a day of school to let her catch up? She certainly looked sick enough to be allowed to stay home.

At the moment, though, Marinette needed to at least try and take some notes. Even though she could barely understand a word on the board. 

After a final, blissful slow blink to give her eyes some rest, she moved the tip of her pen to her notebook. About to begin scrawling down some notes, she was interrupted by the sound of a blaring alarm that had her snapping awake. 

That was tha akuma alert. Which meant that it was time for her to go and transform. She and Alya exchanged a set of glances and quick nods before Marinette ducked out of the small classroom. Everywhere around her people were rushing out of class to get to safety. She cursed silently. She really needed to find somewhere to transform.

Marinette hurried through the crowded school corridors, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending akuma attack. It was absolutely vital for her to find a secluded spot to transform, away from prying eyes. As she rounded a corner, she spotted an alleyway that seemed deserted. Tired as she was, Marinette forgot to look around for any stragglers and darted into the shadows.

Once in the relative privacy of the alley, Marinette reached for her earrings, ready to transform into Ladybug and face the akuma threat. “Tikki, spots on!” she shouted.

It was only after that that she realized she made a mistake. That there was someone else in the alley with her. A loud gasp had her whirling around during her transformation, meeting a pair of wide, green eyes as she collided back against the wall. She tried to stop it, but it was simply too late. She had already transformed.

Wincing, Ladybug met Adrien’s shocked gaze. And, was it just her or did he also seem tired? Her heart raced as she realized her mistake. She had transformed in front of Adrien, revealing her secret identity in a moment of exhaustion and distraction.

"Adrien..." Ladybug began, her voice trailing off as she searched for words to explain.

Adrien's eyes were wide with astonishment, his mouth slightly agape. He took a step closer, his gaze moving over Ladybug's familiar costume and the earrings that were ever-present in her ears.

"Marinette," Adrien breathed, disbelief and awe mingling in his voice.

Ladybug nodded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Well, she couldn’t exactly deny it. He had literally seen her transform. "Yes, it's me. I'm so sorry, Adrien. I didn't mean for you to see this."

Adrien's initial shock began to give way to a warm smile. "No, don't apologize. It's incredible. You're incredible."

Ladybug felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Adrien's reaction was not what she had expected. She had feared disbelief or anger, but instead, she found understanding and admiration in his eyes.

"Please, Adrien," she said earnestly. “You can't tell anyone. My identity must remain a secret for the safety of everyone."

Adrien nodded, his expression turning more serious. "I won't tell a soul, Ladybug. Your secret is safe with me. Because... well, you see, I’m keeping the same one."

Her brow furrowed at his words. What on earth was he talking about? Before she could comment on it, however, she was interrupted by his shout.

“Plagg, claws out!”

This time, Ladybug let out a loud gasp of her own as she watched a flash of bright green light up right in front of her. But... but... how? Could it really be?

It was. Because Adrien was no longer standing in front of her. Instead Chat Noir had taken his place. Her heart raced with surprise as her mouth gaped open. 

“Hello, m’lady.” He gave her a smile that she had seen so many times on Adrien’s face. How had she missed the signs? Suddenly, it felt like there were so many. It seemed so obvious now. “This was the real reason I had come into the alleyway as well. Another few seconds and you would have already seen me transformed. Or, a few more and I would have purrobably left already.”

She wanted to run to him. Embrace him. Pour out all of her feelings in a big jumbled-up confession. Maybe, if she was really lucky, she’d even be able to kiss him. But she couldn’t. Because at that moment, a large explosion rocked Paris and her eyes narrowed with determination. Later. They’d discuss this later. Right now they had a city to protect. Her feelings could wait until after it was gone.

The two glanced at each other. Not needing words as they both nodded with understanding. Together, the two vaulted out of the small alleyway, ready to defeat this latest akuma and save the day.

Chapter Text

Marinette glanced nervously around the small pink foam prison she had gotten encased in. One of the akumatized villains had managed to trap her in here before she could transform. Once again, she attempted to elbow her way out with all of her strength. If she was alone this would be no problem. She’d transform. Get whatever lucky charm was needed and magically pop her way out of this cage. 

But... issue was that she wasn’t alone. Her gaze slid over to Adrien as she continued to ram her elbow into the foam at a faster pace.

“Marinette!” Adrien called out, grabbing her arm gently in his as he gazed down at her sadly. He shook his head. “It’s not working and I don’t want to see you get hurt. We’re going to need to wait for Ladybug.”

She sighed, shooting one last desperate glance at their walls before slumping down against them. “Or Chat Noir,” she muttered, hugging her knees to her chest. Right now it was only going to be Chat Noir who was saving them. Ladybug was a little... occupied at the moment.
Marinette couldn’t stop herself from fiddling with her earring. She placed her chin down on her knees, staring down at the floor miserably. “His cataclysm sounds really good right about now.” 

She heard Adrien sit across from her and peeked back up at him. He gave an almost awkward-sounding laugh that had her raising a brow. “Yeah, or Ladybug’s lucky charm.”

Marinette gnawed at her lower lip, not wanting to think about that right now. Surely Chat would save them sooner or later. She just needed to wait.

But, after an hour of waiting, Marinette was slowly losing any semblance of hope. Maybe Chat had gotten caught in a foam prison like her and he was also trapped with someone next to him. At least she was with Adrien. Who she would trust with her life.

Sucking in a deep breath for courage, Marinette spoke up at the same time as him. 

“I need to tell you something!” They both burst out together.

They both chuckled, their previously wide eyes softening into a look of endearment as they gazed at each other. 

“What, um...,” Marinette said, fiddling with her earrings once again. She’d take any distraction to keep her identity secret for just a few moments longer. “What did you need to tell me?”

 “Actually, it might be easier if I show you.” Adrien scratched the back of his neck.

“Show me wha-”

“Plagg, claws out!”

The burst of green light had Marinette clenching her eyes shut. What?! But... but that can’t be! Slowly, she cracked an eye open, and to her surprise and utter bafflement, instead of Adrien, there stood Chat Noir, transformed into his alter ego with the signature black suit and cat-like mask.

"A-Adrien?!" Marinette exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Adrien, now Chat Noir, grinned sheepishly. "I’m sorry, Marinette, but I couldn’t risk us staying in this cage for any longer. And, besides, I trust you."

Marinette's mind raced with a mixture of astonishment and pure joy. Adrien trusted her! Revealed his identity to her just moments before she was going to do the same thing. At the same time, though, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was lucky that both Ladybug and Chat Noir ended up stuck together, or if it was rather unlucky instead.

"You're Chat Noir?" Marinette's voice was filled with wonder as she took in the sight of her partner in a new light.

“Pawsitively!” He grinned and wow, he looked so good like that.

Shaking her head to keep herself on track, Marinette stood up too. “Then, I suppose it’s for the best that I show you what I wanted to say as well.”

His head tilted with confusion. “What do you me-”

Before he could finish that sentence, Marinette called on her transformation. “Tikki, spots on!”

Now it was Chat’s turn to look incredulous. “M-M’lady?” he asked almost hesitantly.

“Yep!” She nodded firmly. “But we’ll have to discuss this later. Right now there’s an akuma to defeat and we need your cataclysm to get out of here.”

“Right!” Chat’s eyes blazed with determination before he called on his power, finally letting the two be free for the first time in over an hour.

Though right now all she wanted to do was freak out, that would need to come later. Once the akuma was defeated then... then she and Adrien could finally talk about everything that they needed.

Chapter Text

“What do you think would have happened if we never found each other?” Adrien murmured softly. They were at her computer, playing Ultimate Mecha Strike for what had to be close to the millionth time.

“Ha! Impossible!” Marinette waved off his comment. The idea of her having never met Adrien was too crazy to think about. She had always been destined to meet him.

He paused the game and she turned to look at him, blinking in slight surprise.

“I’m serious. What if we had never met?”

She shook her head, her pigtails swaying as she did so. “And I’m telling you that it’s an impossible question. I was always going to meet you.”

“Come on, Marinette.” Adrien chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “What if we had been in different classes or different schools?”

Marinette frowned slightly, taking a moment to think. The first scenario seemed very unlikely for them to have never met but the second... the second seemed quite a bit more likely.

Slowly, she began to word her thoughts, “I think I still would have met you quite easily even if we had been in different classes. After all, I know both Marc, Aurore, and Zoé and they’re in different classes.” Adrien tilted his head in agreement with her point. “Different schools might be a bit trickier but we had that field trip to New York once so I’m sure eventually we’d have had a trip together or something that connected our two schools.”

Marinette beamed over at him after finishing that last sentence. After all, the thought of having never met Adrien just seemed inconceivable. Besides, she was Ladybug, so she’d certainly have to save him at one point or another. But, she couldn’t exactly just say that. As much as she may want to.

“Alright, fair enough.” Adrien chuckled, leaning back in her chair as he popped one of the macaroons her parents brought up for them in his mouth. “But what if my father had never allowed me to go to school at all? How would we have met then?”

She hummed lightly, nibbling on her lip in thought once again. This was also a fair bit trickier. But then, she snapped her fingers. “Fashion!” Marinette practically shouted.

“What?” he asked, his brow creasing with confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” she dragged out. “I’m destined to be a fashion designer and you would be a model working for Gabriel Agreste. Our first meeting would be legendary!” She sent him a goofy grin.

“Ahh, but you’re forgetting. I’m not a model anymore,” he teased.

“Adrien, sweetheart, I love you.” Marinette reached over, placing her hand over his, practically melting into a big puddle when his eyes softened at the touch. “But if, in this alternate universe, your father was keeping you from school, then I’m certain he’d force you to continue modeling forever.”

Adrien opened his mouth, surely about to say something before he closed it with a quiet, dumbfounded laugh. “You know what, I think you’re right. I was only able to stand up to my father in the first place because of you.”

She squeezed his hand, trying to bring the smile back to his face. “Not to worry, of course, once we met, I would swoop in and save you from your modeling career. Maybe I’d get you a job at the bakery or something.” Marinette giggled.

Adrien grinned, a warmth spreading through him at Marinette's words. "A job at the bakery, huh? I could get used to that."

Marinette laughed, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Just imagine, you in an apron, covered in flour, trying to bake pastries."

"I think I'd make a mess of it," Adrien admitted with a chuckle. "But if it's with you, I'd give it a try."

They sat there, enjoying each other's company, the game paused forgotten on the screen. It was moments like these, simple and sweet, that made them cherish their relationship even more.

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Yeah?" Marinette turned to him, her gaze filled with curiosity.

"I'm glad we found each other," he said, his voice sincere. "No matter how crazy the 'what ifs' are, I'm just happy we're here, together."

Marinette's heart fluttered at his words, a smile spreading across her face. "Me too, Adrien. Me too."

He leaned over, pecking a kiss against her lips that had her smiling into his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him down to her as she deepened their kiss.

They shared this sweet moment of kisses, just relishing in the warmth of their connection. They knew that no matter the twists and turns life might have taken, they were meant to be together, playing video games, baking pastries, and facing whatever challenges came their way, side by side.

Chapter Text

Adrien and Marinette sat on the rooftop of Marinette's building, watching the sun dip below the Paris skyline. The evening breeze tousled their hair as they curled up together on her lawn chair, watching the sky slowly begin to darken. Marinette tightened her arms around Adrien, cuddling him to her as the wind sent a shiver of goosebumps up against her arms.

"So, what do you see yourself doing in the next five years?" Adrien asked, tilting his head back to look up at her, his green eyes brimming with curiosity.

Marinette grinned, her gaze drifting off lazily to the Eiffel Tower in the distance. This question was certainly distracting her from the cold. "What is this, a job interview?" she giggled.

“Shut up!” Adrien laughed and she enjoyed the rumble against her chest. “I’m interested!”

Marinette nodded, a spark of humor in her eyes. "Well, you know me, I’m crazy about fashion. I hope to be able to get an internship somewhere in the future. Maybe nothing too big or fancy but just enough to get me started. And then, going past the five-year timeline, I’d like to be able to open my own boutique... start my own fashion line... it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of doing." 

She finished her statement with a happy sigh, imagining the beauty of having her own fashion business. The idea of owning her own boutique one day seemed impossible but magical.  

"That sounds absolutely fantastic, Marinette!" Adrien exclaimed, turning to face her. "You know, we could collaborate on something together. Your designs plus my modeling skills could mean that we’d have the best fashion business in all of Paris."

Marinette laughed quietly before shaking her head. “I’m not going to force you to model for me, Adrien. I know you quit for a reason. It just wasn’t your dream.” 

“Yeah, but you’re my dream. I just want to be with you and if I could help you fulfill your wishes, that would mean the world to me.”

Marinette let out a soft cry before pulling Adrien up to her, crashing her lips to his in a passionate kiss. There was a pause for just a brief moment before he was kissing her back just as deeply. She ran her fingers through his hair as she deepened their kiss. This, right here, was everything to her.

“I love you,” Marinette murmured after she pulled back for some much-needed air. “So, so much. You have no idea how much that means to me, Adrien. You’ve been my dream too for a very long time now and I never thought I’d hear you say the same about me.”

“I love you too,” Adrien spoke breathily before connecting their lips together again. 

Slowly, they pulled apart, lingering in each other’s arms in the quiet of the evening. Adrien ran his fingers along her arms, warming her prior chill and her eyes fluttered closed at the touch. The city below seemed to slow down, giving them a peaceful moment amidst the bustling life of Paris.

"I can imagine us traveling together. When we’re older and are an incredible designer and model duo," Adrien mused, breaking the silence softly. "Exploring new places, experiencing different cultures. It would be incredible."

Marinette smiled, nestling herself back against the small lawn chair they were in and cuddling Adrien back to her chest. "Yeah, that really does sound amazing. We could visit fashion capitals, attend shows, and maybe even collaborate with designers from around the world."

The idea of blending their love for each other with their passion for fashion filled their hearts with excitement. They talked about attending fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, New York, and Tokyo, envisioning a future where their creations would grace runways and magazines.

"And imagine," Marinette added, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, "we could create sustainable fashion lines, promoting eco-friendly practices and ethical production."

Adrien nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "That's a fantastic idea. We could use our platform to inspire some more positive change in the industry."

As the night deepened, they wrapped themselves in a shared blanket, watching the stars twinkle above. The quiet moments between their conversations were filled with a comfortable silence, a testament to their deep connection.

"I'm so grateful for moments like these," Marinette said softly, pressing a kiss against the top of his head. "No matter where life takes us, I know we'll always have each other."

Adrien leaned into her embrace, feeling a profound sense of contentment. "I’m so glad I found you."

They stayed on the rooftop, lost in dreams of the future, cherishing the love that bound them together. In that peaceful night, under the starlit sky, Adrien and Marinette found solace in each other's arms, knowing that their journey was just beginning, filled with endless possibilities and shared adventures.

Chapter Text

Adrien stood on Marinette's balcony, nerves dancing like butterflies in his stomach. He clutched a folded piece of paper in his hand, the words he had carefully written echoing in his mind. Tonight, he would finally tell Marinette how he felt, confessing the love he had harbored for so long.

The moon cast a gentle glow, illuminating Marinette as she sat, her eyes fixed on the sky. She was so beautiful, and Adrien couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions at the sight of her. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for.

He took a deep breath and approached her, his heart racing with every step. Marinette turned to look at him, her eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of anticipation. Adrien knew he simply couldn't delay the inevitable any longer. He had to tell her. He was practically bursting with it.

"Marinette," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, "there's something I need to tell you."

Marinette's gaze softened, encouraging him to continue. Adrien took another breath, gathering his courage. "I've been thinking a lot lately, and I've come to realize something important," he confessed, his eyes locked with hers. "I love you, Marinette. More than anything."

He watched Marinette's reaction, hoping beyond hope that she would feel the same way. Her eyes widened in surprise, then filled with warmth and affection. "Adrien," she whispered, her voice filled with joy, "you love me?"

Adrien nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, Marinette. I've loved you for a long time, and I couldn't keep it hidden any longer."

Tears of happiness welled up in Marinette's eyes as she took a step closer to him. "Adrien, I love you too," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've always loved you. For longer than you could ever even have imagined."

Adrien's heart soared as he pulled Marinette into a tender embrace. At that moment, under the moonlight, surrounded by the quiet night, they shared their confession of love, knowing that this was the beginning of a beautiful journey together.

As Adrien held Marinette in his arms, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble of happiness. He couldn't believe that this moment had finally arrived, that Marinette loved him back with the same intensity he felt for her.

"I've dreamt of this moment for so long," Adrien murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with love. "To hear you say you love me too... it's everything I've ever wanted or could have hoped for."

Marinette looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. "Adrien, I never thought you would feel the same way," she admitted, her voice catching with emotion. "But I'm so glad you do."

They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the silence between them speaking volumes. Adrien felt a sense of completeness wash over him as if all the pieces of his heart had finally fallen into place. Marinette was not just his crush or a friend; she was his soulmate. He had always been meant to fall in love with her.

"Marinette," Adrien said, his voice tinged with wonder, "how could I have not realized this sooner? It feels like we've always been meant to be together. We could have been with each other for much longer if I had just realized sooner."

Marinette smiled up at him, her hand reaching up to cup his cheek. "Maybe you were just waiting for the perfect moment," she suggested, her thumb brushing gently against his skin. "And tonight, under the stars, this feels like the perfect moment."

Adrien leaned down, his lips meeting Marinette's in a soft, tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with years of unspoken feelings, a promise of a future filled with love and happiness. As they pulled back, Adrien rested his forehead against Marinette's, their breaths mingling in the cool night air.

"I love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Adrien said, his voice filled with conviction.

Marinette giggled at his words, her sapphire eyes shining up at him with love. "And I, I love you too, Adrien Agreste.”

They stayed on her balcony, holding each other close, savoring the magical moment they had shared. The moon continued its journey across the sky, casting a gentle light on their intertwined fingers and the smiles that never left their faces. As they stood together under the moonlight, they knew that their confession of love was just the first step on their journey to forever. Together, they both knew that there would be many more magical moments in their relationship in the future.

Chapter Text

Adrien sighed happily, his hand wrapped tightly around Marinette’s. They had agreed that they would be taking their relationship slow. But this... just this was more than enough. 

They were currently lying out in Place des Vosges on a blanket together. The moon was slowly rising in the sky as the stars twinkled above them and they stared up at the beautiful night sky. 

Slowly, very slowly, so as not to startle her, Adrien bumped his hand ever so lightly against hers. Just his pinky rested against hers but he still held his breath, terrified that Marinette would pull away. She didn’t. Her pinky twitched ever so slightly, sending a shiver up his spine as it brushed against his hand. But she kept it against his.

Taking it one step further, Adrien reached out further, beginning to cover the back of her hand with his. Still, she let him, a contented sigh leaving her lips. 

When his whole hand was over hers and a flurry of butterflies had erupted to life in his stomach, Marinette flipped her palm over, entwining their fingers together. The warmth of their joined hands seemed to chase away the cool night air, leaving them in a cocoon of shared affection and growing love.

As their fingers intertwined, Adrien felt a rush of emotions flood through him. It was a simple gesture, yet it spoke volumes of just how far their relationship had come. The soft glow of the moon illuminated Marinette's features, casting a gentle radiance over her face. Her eyes, sparkling with a mixture of happiness and affection, met his, and in that moment, everything else faded into the background. 

The night sky held nothing on the pure, wonderful beauty of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He could stare into her eyes all day and still, it would never be enough.

They lay there, hands intertwined, lost in their own little world amidst the bustling city. The sounds of Paris at night, the distant murmur of people, and the occasional passing car, all seemed to blend into a soothing symphony that accompanied their intimate moment.

Adrien couldn't help but marvel at how far they had come. From her classmate whom Marinette originally couldn’t stand, to friends who confided in each other, and now, as they began to enter into a relationship together, every step felt like a cherished milestone.

Marinette's touch was like a balm to his soul, calming the doubts and insecurities that had plagued him before. With her, he felt at peace, as if the universe had aligned just so they could find each other.

He couldn’t stop his eyes from darting to her lips. They glistened in the dim moonlight and Adrien felt the desperate urge to finally... finally kiss her. But he didn’t. Just barely managing to refrain. One day... one day they’d share their first kiss and that would be the best day of his life. But right now, he could be content just holding hands with the girl he was in love with.

A small, slow, beautiful smile lit up Marinette’s lips and he couldn’t help but to beam back at her. It was moments like these that Adrien cherished the most, where words were unnecessary because their hearts and connection spoke volumes.

As they lay side by side, fingers still intertwined, Adrien traced imaginary patterns on Marinette's palm, relishing the sensation of her skin against his. The night breeze carried with it whispers of secrets yet to be shared, dreams yet to be fulfilled, and a future filled with endless possibilities.

With a soft sigh, Marinette snuggled closer, resting her head on Adrien's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into a gentle embrace. In that serene moment, surrounded by the beauty of the night and the depth of their feelings, they knew that their love story was just beginning, and the best was yet to come.

Leaning down, he brushed a kiss just on the crown of her hair, inhaling the strawberry scent of her shampoo. “I love you,” he murmured. “So much, Marinette.”

She shivered in his arms and he embraced her tighter, trying to erase whatever chill had caused the goosebumps on her arms. “I love you too,” she whispered back, sending his heart aflutter.

Yes, this truly was the perfect night. More than he ever could have imagined.

Chapter Text

Best friends. Best friends. Initially, that word had filled Adrien with a fluttery happiness at the idea that he could associate Marinette with it. Because she was his best friend. He couldn’t imagine anyone more deserving of the title.

And yet, the more he got to know and the more he began to realize his own feelings for her, it felt empty. He wanted more. He knew that it was selfish. That he was being greedy for wanting all of her. But Adrien couldn’t stop it.

Every time she held his hand, giggling and laughing at whatever had grabbed her attention, he felt the butterflies brim to life in his stomach. He wanted to clutch tighter onto her hand and never let go. And yet he couldn’t. Knew that she no longer felt the same way. Which was a bigger travesty than Adrien would care to admit.

If only he had realized his feelings sooner. He remembered the strange, pleasant warmth that had fueled him when Marinette had brushed her lips against his in that museum so long ago now. And yet, he had denied it, brushed aside the budding feelings as there was no way that Marinette could have possibly liked him like that.

After that day, though, Adrien couldn’t help but long that their lips would connect in another kiss. A longer one this time. But, if he was being honest, the fluttery warm feeling had been there since his umbrella had closed down around her that very first day that they had known each other. He can remember his cheeks burning with happiness as he glanced back at Marinette.

Adrien’s feelings just kept building and building until finally, he was practically bursting with them. Until he could no longer deny that he was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with her. Until he realized that he wanted to be more than just her best friend.

If only he could go back. If only he could go back and press his lips just as tightly against hers into a kiss that they would never be able to go back from. A kiss that would forever change their relationship.

And yet, there Adrien sat on her chaise, watching Marinette longingly as she sewed. Her tongue was poking out of her mouth adorably as she frowned down in concentration at the latest design in front of her. How could one girl be so beautiful?

After a few moments, she spoke up, snapping him out of his fantasies of striding over to her, lifting her chin up, and whispering how devoted he would forever be to her if she just gave him another chance to kiss her.

“What are you looking at?” Marinette asked, still staring down at her design.

“You,” Adrien murmured thoughtlessly.

This time, Marinette’s head did snap up to look at him with a pair of wide, beautiful blue eyes. Having taken her eyes off her design, she pricked her finger against the needle and cursed quietly, turning off the noisy machine.

Her gaze then locked back onto Adrien, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. The moment hung in the air, charged with unspoken emotions and unexplored possibilities. Adrien's heart raced, unsure of how to proceed now that those words had slipped out without thinking.

"I mean, I was just admiring your work," Adrien quickly added, attempting to smooth over his inadvertent confession. He felt a rush of warmth flood his cheeks, hoping that his stumble hadn't revealed too much.

Marinette's lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You always have a way of making me feel special, Adrien," she said, the sincerity in her voice sending a flutter through his chest. 

She was always so pretty when she smiled. Especially when he was the cause of said smile. Unthinkingly, he beamed back at her.

"Would you like to see what I've been working on?" Marinette asked, gesturing to the sketches scattered across her workspace.

“Always!” he spoke eagerly, jumping to a stand as he leaned over her shoulder to look down at the design.

Adrien’s chest brushed against her shoulder and he shivered at the heat that suddenly surrounded him. He forced himself to ignore the warmth as he looked down at the design that she had been working on. “Wow,” he murmured. “Marinette, this is amazing.”

She beamed up at him, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Yeah?” she asked. “You think so?”

“I know so.” Adrien nodded. Unable to stop himself, he murmured, “You’re amazing.”

Marinette's cheeks flushed pink at Adrien's compliment, her smile widening with genuine happiness. "Thank you, Adrien," she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that echoed his own feelings.

Their eyes locked, and in that shared gaze, Adrien felt a surge of courage. He simply couldn't hold back any longer, couldn't let this moment slip away without expressing the depth of his emotions.

"Marinette, there's something I need to tell you," Adrien began, his voice steady despite the racing of his heart. "I've been holding this in for so long, but I can't keep it to myself any longer."

Marinette's expression shifted to one of curiosity mixed with just a hint of apprehension. "What is it, Adrien?" she asked, her voice soft, encouraging him to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Adrien reached out, gently cupping Marinette's face in his hands. His thumb brushed against her cheek, tracing the line of her jaw as he searched for the right words. Her eyes widened further at his touch, her lips parting as she blinked up at him.

"I love you, Marinette," Adrien confessed, his gaze unwavering. "Not just as a friend, but with all of my heart. I've realized that I want to be more than just your best friend. I want to be with you, to share every moment, every laugh, every dream."

Marinette's breath caught in her throat. Emotions flickered across her face—shock, joy, and a hint of uncertainty. Adrien held his breath, waiting for her response, his heart pounding in his chest.

For a moment, even the world seemed to hold its breath, as if time itself paused to witness this short exchange. And then, with a soft smile that lit up her entire face, Marinette leaned in, closing the gap between them.

Their lips met in a tender, heartfelt kiss, sealing their unspoken promises and unfulfilled desires. It was a kiss filled with years of friendship, with shared memories, and unspoken confessions. At that moment, everything fell into place, and Adrien knew that he had found his home in Marinette's embrace.

As they pulled back, breathless and gazing into each other's eyes, Adrien felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The unspoken had been spoken, the longing had been fulfilled, and they stood on the threshold of a new chapter in their relationship.

"I love you too, Adrien. I’ve always loved you," Marinette whispered, her voice filled with love and sincerity. After a moment, she laughed, the joy in her giggles making his heart clench. “I’ve loved you for so long now. Longer than you could have even imagined. This means more to me than you could ever know."

And in that simple affirmation, Adrien knew that their love story was just beginning. He leaned down, taking her hand in his as he clutched it to his chest tightly. He brought it up to his lips, brushing a kiss on her knuckles. “I might have some idea,” he murmured before leaning back in to claim her lips once more. This was more than he could ever have imagined.

Chapter Text

Marinette gently ran her fingers along Adrien’s wrist, twirling the charm bracelet that she had given him. “I can’t believe you still have this,” she murmured.

They were sitting on her chaise, a movie playing as they cuddled close together. Adrien shook his head, craning his neck back to look back at her. “You gave it to me, of course, I kept it.”

She giggled shyly, tucking her hair back behind her ear. “Yeah, but I mean I don’t know. I gave that bracelet to you back before we ever got together. Before you ever even had feelings for me. Back when I was still a blushing, stuttering awkward mess around you.”

A frown creased Adrien’s brow before he paused the movie, turning around to squeeze her hand in his. “Marinette, I treasured everything you gave to me back then.”

“Really?” she asked, a smile teasing at the edges of her lips.

“Really.” Adrien grinned back before he began to chuckle. “Honestly, Marinette, I should have realized I was in love with you sooner than I did just from how many signs there were. Every single thing you made for me, I’d just stare at for hours. Pl- er, my friend used to tease me about just how long I’d spend idolizing the little gifts you gave me.”

Marinette’s eyes softened at his little speech before she tugged him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him. “I love you,” she murmured in between kisses. “So... so much.”

Their laughter filled the cozy space of Marinette's room, blending with the quiet noises of the Parisian streets below. Adrien's arms tightened around her, his lips meeting hers in a tender embrace that spoke volumes of their shared love for one another.

"I love you too, Marinette," Adrien whispered, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "You've always been the one for me, even when I didn't realize it."

Marinette smiled against his lips, her heart fluttering with happiness. She traced the outline of his jaw with her fingertips, pecking another kiss on his lips. "I'm so glad we found our way to each other, Adrien. Even if it took just a bit longer than expected."

Adrien chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with adoration. "It was worth the wait. Every moment with you is a treasure."

They stayed wrapped in each other's arms, lost in a world where time seemed to stand still. The charm bracelet Marinette had given Adrien glinted in the soft light, a silent witness to the love that had blossomed between them.

“Wait just one second,” she murmured, getting up before heading over to her pink backpack. She rummaged in it for a brief moment before sliding on the charm bracelet that Adrien had given her on her birthday. 

“Now we’re matching.” Marinette grinned shyly up at him, her cheeks a rosy red.

He traced his fingers along the bracelet before embracing her as he brushed another kiss against her lips. “You kept this silly old thing?” he asked, his green eyes gleaming at her playfully.

“Of course!” Marinette giggled. “You gave it to me. You can’t even begin to understand just how many butterflies you gave me when I first unwrapped it.”

Adrien traced her cheek, running his thumb along it softly. “I remember being terrified when I gave that to you. I thought you’d hate it.”

“Nope.” She shook her head with a smile, twirling it around her wrist. “It was my favorite gift that day.”

They leaned into each other, their hearts beating in sync. Marinette’s eyes fluttered closed as she sighed happily. This was more than she could have ever even dreamed back when she first realized how desperately in love with him she was.

And in that quiet moment of togetherness, the world outside faded away into insignificance. Marinette knew that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always have each other and the magic of their love to guide them through.

Chapter Text

Marinette hummed quietly to herself as she got changed into her dress for the end-of-the-school-year dance. She was so excited for it. Even just the idea of dancing with Adrien had her heart racing with excitement and anticipation. This would be their first dance as an official couple.

After she had finished getting ready and was putting the final touches on her makeup, her phone began to ring. She picked it up, a bright smile on her face as she noticed who it was.

"Adrien!" she exclaimed, grinning at him over their call. Quickly, though, her face dropped into an expression of surprise and disbelief when she saw the tear tracks stream down his face.

"Marinette, I should've told you sooner," Adrien's voice cracked over the video call. "But... up until the last minute, I thought I'd find a solution. I tried everything, I swear."

Confusion and worry etched across Marinette's face as she listened intently. "Adrien, what's... what's going on?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

"I have to leave Paris," Adrien confessed, his voice breaking. "I'm not worthy of your love. I feel terrible for hurting you."

What? Adrien was leaving Paris? But... but why? What was going on? 

Tikki watched with sadness in her eyes as Marinette's world seemed to crumble before her. She clutched her phone tightly, unable to hold back her own tears. A single droplet fell onto the lucky charm Adrien had given her. She clenched it tightly in her hands, unwilling to ever let it go again.

"I'm sorry," Adrien whispered before the call ended abruptly.

Marinette sank to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. This was his father. She was certain of it. "I made you a promise, Adrien," she choked out between sobs. "I'll never abandon you!"

With determination fueled by the strength of her love, Marinette dashed out of her room. She heard Tikki whizz into her purse behind her but that didn’t matter. She had to get to Adrien. And, with the way she knew Gabriel Agreste she was absolutely certain he would be putting Adrien on a flight right now.

Racing to her scooter, she pulled out her phone, checking Adrien’s location as she pulled her helmet on. She had been right! He was at the airport!

Marinette slammed her foot down on the gas, screeching her way over to the airport. She was not about to let him get away without at least saying goodbye.

Her journey to the airport was a tumultuous race against time and fate. With determination etched on her face and her heart pounding with every turn of her scooter's wheels, she navigated through the bustling streets of Paris.

The wind whipped through her hair as Marinette weaved through traffic, her focus solely on reaching Adrien before it was too late. Each honk and shout from other drivers only fueled her determination, pushing her to go faster despite the risks.

As she approached the airport, Marinette's heart raced even faster. She knew she had to act quickly, her mind racing with thoughts of Adrien and their impending separation. With Tikki by her side, offering silent encouragement, Marinette raced past security checkpoints, her determination unwavering.

However, her daring move did not go unnoticed. An airport technician spotted her and immediately gave chase, shouting for her to stop. Marinette simply ignored his commands, her only goal was to reach Adrien's side no matter what obstacles stood in her way.

With adrenaline pumping through her veins, Marinette maneuvered through the airport's terminals, her eyes scanning for any sign of Adrien's departure. The urgency of the situation pushed her beyond her limits, propelling her forward with a singular focus on love and reunion.

As she neared the plane preparing for departure, Marinette's heart pounded in her chest. The sight of Adrien's private jet fueled her determination even more. She ignored the calls to halt, pushing her scooter to go faster than she had ever gone before.

Finally, as the plane's engines roared to life, Marinette began to scream Adrien’s name, hoping to stop it. With tears in her eyes and her heart in her throat, she called out his name, her voice echoing through the airport amidst the chaos of departure.

The airport technician tried to intercept her, demanding that she stop and turn back. But Marinette's resolve was unyielding. She had come too far to give up now.

With every ounce of strength and determination, Marinette raced towards Adrien, her love propelling her forward against all odds. This was her moment of defiance, her last chance to hold onto the love that meant everything to her.

"Adrieeeeen!" Marinette's voice echoed through the air, filled with desperation and love.

Finally, she had made it to the stairs of the plane! Uncaring of her scooter which crashed to the side of her, she threw her helmet to the floor. She was going to see him one last time! She bolted for the stairs, her heart tugging in her chest as she saw Adrien race out to greet her as well. 

Instantly, Marinette wrapped her arms around him, unwilling to let go. She wasn’t certain who kissed who first, or if they both kissed each other at the same time but suddenly their lips were together. Finally!  

She clutched him to her even tighter. How was she supposed to let go of this? His lips were soft against hers and a shiver raced up her spine as Adrien embraced her just as tightly.

But their moment of defiance and kiss was short-lived as Gabriel intervened, ordering the airport technician to separate them. The Gorilla followed suit, pulling Adrien away from Marinette.

It felt like a millennium before both the Gorilla and the airport technician were able to break them from their kiss. But, as soon as their lips had parted, Marinette immediately missed him. She wished that they had the time and opportunity to share a million more kisses.

But they didn’t.

The Gorilla and the airport technician tugged harder, leaving them clutching at the other’s hands desperately. Forcing as much Ladybug strength into her grip as possible, Marinette felt her heart shatter when they were eventually torn apart.

Shortly after, the plane took off. Marinette watched it go with bated breath. Could it be at all possible for it to turn back? For Adrien to appear in front of her as they shared a second kiss. 

Her hopes were in vain, however. Marinette stood alone on the runway, tears streaming down her face, her heart broken but her resolve unbroken. Their love was inseparable, even in the face of cruel fate. She would find a way to bring him back to her. No matter what.

Chapter Text

Marinette fell in love with Adrien in the rain. He showed her kindness, his bright, soft smile warming her heart even in the midst of the torrential downpour. Their fingers had brushed as he handed her the umbrella and she felt the wonderful sensation of shivers rush up her spine. And, at that first crack of thunder as the umbrella collapsed over her head and she heard the joyful sound of his laughter, she knew he was it. That she was head over heels.

 He had left, giving her one last chuckle and a promise of tomorrow before he headed inside the car that awaited him. Marinette had been a blushing, stammering mess which had never happened to her before. 

But, honestly, it made sense. Only Adrien would have been able to make her fall for him like this. No one else ever could.

Or so she had thought. Because Marinette also realized she had fallen out of love with him in the rain. 

As the clap of thunder sounded once more, even she was unable to discern the difference between the rain and the tears on her cheeks. At that moment, she realized that it was Chat Noir, her partner, who she should have been focusing her feelings and affection on. He had stuck by her through everything. And, honestly, it seemed silly that it had taken her so long to realize this. If only she could have recognized the love in her heart sooner.

With that thought, Marinette trudged home in the rain, hoping against all hopes that she hadn’t completely destroyed all of her chances. She never should have wasted all of her feelings on a boy who so clearly loved someone else.

So when she got ready for school the next day, her mind was still swirling from her realization yesterday. She had spent so much time loving Adrien that it felt almost dizzying for her to realize that she also loved Chat Noir.

So lost in her thoughts, Marinette didn’t realize that she had bumped into someone walking up the steps to school until after she had already crashed onto the ground. 

“Sorry!” she winced, clutching her aching head. “I wasn’t looking where I was going!”

Blinking in surprise, wide blue eyes met a pair of bright, emerald green ones. Adrien grabbed onto her hand, holding it softly as he helped pick her up. Marinette had to forcibly shove the butterflies down at the sensation. 

No!

It was too late now.

“It was my fault, actually.” Adrien smiled, scratching the back of his neck. He glanced away from her. “You looked distracted but I still blocked your path because I wanted to talk to you.”

“You wanted to talk to me?” She frowned, her brow creasing.

“Mhm,” he hummed with a nod. “I wanted to make certain that you got home safe after that rainstorm last night. You’re not sick at all, are you?”

Adrien leaned into her, placing his hand over her forehead as though checking for fever. 

Too close! Too close!  

With her mind screaming at her, Marinette’s cheeks immediately turned a bright red and she scrambled back away from him.

Rapidly, she shook her head, waving her hands in front of her. “I-I’m fine! Really!”

Running a hand through her hair, she avoided his gaze and stepped around him quickly. “So fine in fact that I’m going to head to class now. Yep! See you there!”

Quickly, Marinette walked around Adrien, breathing a sigh of relief at the much-needed distance. The space didn’t stay for long though because in just a moment he was next to her, walking at the same pace. 

"I’m glad you’re alright," Adrien spoke softly. “I was worried about you walking home in that storm.” His tone was gentle and caring and she couldn’t help but flutter her eyes closed at the sound. Why did he have to confuse her like this? 

Marinette forced a smile, her mind racing to find the right words. "It, um, takes a little more than rain to knock me out."

She laughed awkwardly but Adrien didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Still, I think I’d feel better if I knew you weren’t out walking alone. Maybe the next time we’re out together, I could drive you home? Does that sound alright?"

Her breath hitched and she snuck a quick glance over at the boy next to her. He was smiling, his eyes lit up with so much hope that she just... couldn’t. Clenching her eyes shut, Marinette gave a simple nod. “S-Sure. But only if it helps make you feel better.”

He positively beamed at her then, and she felt her heart give the familiar tug that only Adrien seemed to bring about. He took her hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze. “Sounds like a plan!” he said cheerily. 

Before Marinette even had the time to freak out that Adrien had just held her hand, they had reached their classroom’s door. He held it open for her with a soft grin. Marinette couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the situation. Adrien was everything she had once wanted, but now her heart belonged to someone else. Why now did it seem like he wanted her the way she had once wanted him?

As they entered the classroom together, Marinette couldn't shake off the feeling of longing and confusion. She was in love with Chat Noir. That was obvious now. So then why did she also still have these feelings for Adrien as well? 

With a quiet sigh, she walked up to her desk. Right now, at least, she didn’t have to think about the madness of her feelings. It was time for class and she could at least focus on her schoolwork now. Sliding into her seat and taking out her journal to take down notes, Marinette completely missed the longing look Adrien sent her way as he took his own seat.

Chapter Text

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was his girlfriend. He was her boyfriend. Even just that thought had a thrill running up Adrien’s spine. 

It had been a whirlwind of emotions when he realized his feelings for her. Suddenly, he had begun sneaking quick, shy glances back at her from his seat in front of her in class, wondering if it was still possible for her to feel the same. Eventually, though, with his heart pounding Adrien confessed just how much he adored her that fateful day in her room. And, though he had been terrified at her initial rejection, they managed to figure out that they both did have feelings for the other and began dating. 

And, now, as they walked hand in hand through the bustling streets of Paris, Adrien couldn’t help but to squeeze Marinette’s hand, who was practically glowing with happiness. She looked absolutely gorgeous and not for the first time did he end up wondering how it could have possibly taken him as long as it did to realize his true feelings for her.

They had planned a picnic in the park, a simple yet meaningful date to celebrate their newfound relationship. Marinette had packed some of their favorite sandwiches and pastries from the bakery, knowing his love for all of the sweet, delicious baked goods her family made. As they settled on a cozy blanket under a blooming cherry blossom tree, Adrien couldn't contain his excitement.

"Marinette," he began, his voice filled with warmth and affection, "I never knew that being with you could make every moment feel like magic."

Marinette blushed, her eyes sparkling with love. "Adrien, you make even the simplest things feel extraordinary," she replied, reaching for his hand.

They spent the afternoon laughing, sharing stories, and stealing sweet kisses under the pink petals that danced in the breeze. Adrien couldn't help but feel grateful for every twist of fate that had led him to Marinette. She was not just his girlfriend; she was his soulmate in laughter, in dreams, and in love.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city, Adrien knew that this moment would be etched in his heart forever. With a smile that mirrored the setting sun, he whispered, "I love you, Marinette."

And in that moment, surrounded by the beauty of Paris and the warmth of their love, Marinette whispered back, "I love you too, Adrien. Always and forever."

They both giggled, their eyes sparkling at each other. Slowly, their laughter subsided into a comfortable silence as they watched the sun's descent, painting the sky pretty shades of orange and pink. Adrien leaned closer to Marinette, his heart beating in sync with hers. He could feel the warmth of her presence, the softness of her breath mingling with his.

"Adrien," Marinette whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Adrien turned to her, their eyes meeting in a moment that felt suspended in time. Without a word, he cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing lightly against her cheeks. Marinette's eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into his touch, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, their lips met in a tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the love, passion, and longing that they had both kept hidden for so long. Adrien felt as if the world around them had faded away, leaving only Marinette and the overwhelming sensation of feeling completely and utterly in love.

The cherry blossoms above them seemed to whisper secrets of romance, their petals falling like confetti as they scattered around them. Adrien deepened the kiss, his heart overflowing with joy and gratitude as he tilted his head.

When they finally parted, their eyes met once again, conveying everything they couldn't put into words. Marinette's cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, her gaze filled with unspoken affection.

"I never want this moment to end," Adrien confessed, his voice soft yet full of conviction.

"Me neither," Marinette replied, her fingers intertwining with his. "Being with you feels like a dream."

As they watched the sun disappear beyond the horizon, Adrien knew that their love was as timeless as the city of Paris itself. Hand in hand, they stayed embraced in each other's warmth, knowing that they had found something truly special in each other's hearts.

Chapter Text

Marinette still couldn’t quite believe that she was dating Adrien Agreste. The boy that she had been crushing on for what felt like a lifetime. And, even better, he had feelings for her almost as much as she had feelings for him. 

(Though if you asked Adrien directly, he’d say that she loved him almost half as much as he loved her.)

Their new favorite pastime since becoming a couple was sneaking each other little glances, mouthing I love you’s , and passing each other little love notes in class.

In the middle of a particularly boring lecture, Marinette heard a gentle tap on her desk as her nose was buried in her journal. Looking up with a blink, she saw Adrien, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, holding out a folded piece of paper. Suppressing a giggle, she accepted it and discreetly unfolded it under her desk. Quickly, her eyes skimmed the short note, her heart fluttering with happiness.

My dearest Marinette,

Every moment with you is like a dream come true. Your laughter brightens my day, and your kindness fills my heart with warmth. I love the way you see the world, with wonder and creativity that never fails to inspire me. You're my superhero, even without the mask.

With all my love,

Adrien

Unable to contain her excitement, Marinette quickly scribbled a response and passed it back to Adrien.

My sweet Adrien,

You make every day brighter with your smile and your kindness. I cherish every moment we spend together, whether it's working on school projects or just being by your side. You're my partner in everything, and I'm so grateful for you. I love you more than words can express.

Forever yours,

Marinette

As she handed the note to him with a shy giggle, their secret exchange went unnoticed by most of their classmates. Though she did feel Alya nudge her teasingly. 

They continued passing notes throughout their class, each letter a delightful surprise that made their mundane lesson much more bearable.

After class, Marinette and Adrien met by their lockers, sharing a laugh over their notes. "You always know how to make me smile," Marinette said, leaning in for a quick kiss.

"It's easy when I have such an amazing girlfriend," Adrien replied, his eyes full of adoration.

Their love notes became a cherished tradition, a reminder of the playful and affectionate bond they shared, even in the midst of their busy lives as students and the work that they focused on outside of class.

Years later, after they had grown older and gotten married, as they sat together on a lazy Sunday afternoon, Marinette pulled out their old box of love notes they had both kept. They laughed at the silly drawings and heartfelt messages, marveling at how far they had come since their days back in school.

"You know," Adrien said, wrapping his arm around Marinette. "our love notes were the best part of my day every day."

Marinette smiled, leaning into his embrace. "They still are," she said, reaching for a pen and a piece of paper. "Want to write each other a note right now?"

Adrien grinned, taking the pen from her. "Absolutely. I could never run out of things to say about you, my sweet Marinette."

She giggled, tapping his nose playfully. “Nor I, you, Adrien.”

And with that, they both began to write, their love flowing freely onto the paper, expressing just how much they had leaned on and needed the other both as their superheroine identity and as civilians.

Chapter Text

Adrien took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he held Marinette's in his. They sat across from each other on her chaise, and it had been a great, perfect, wonderful day. But the idea of going to London hung over his head. So much so, that he knew he simply had to tell her, especially as it weighed heavily on his heart. 

He paused the show that they were watching, turning to look at her. "Marinette, there's something I need to tell you," Adrien began, his voice tinged with a mix of anxiety and sadness.

Marinette looked at him, concern furrowing her brow. "What is it, Adrien? You look pale. Are you alright?"

Adrien hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "My father is sending me to London."

Marinette's eyes widened in surprise, but then her expression shifted to one of concern. "London? That's... that's far away," she said softly, her voice reflecting the sadness she felt for him. She hesitated slightly before lowering her voice even further. “D-do you want to go to London?”

Adrien shook his head, his throat feeling tight. "No. I don't want to go, Marinette. I don't want to be so far from you and everyone else."

Marinette reached out to touch his cheek, her touch warm and comforting as he leaned into her palm. "But he’s forcing you to go anyway?" she murmured, her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Adrien, I’m so sorry."

He nodded slowly before throwing his arms around her in a tight hug, his own eyes watering. “I don’t want to leave you! I told him that I-I love you, but he just doesn’t care! He’s forcing me away anyway.”

Marinette sniffled quietly, before pulling away, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand. A look of determination that was just so... so Marinette, lit up her gaze.

“But it’s okay! W-we’ll find a way to get you to stay! I-I know that your father doesn’t like me and that I’m probably the reason why he’s sending you away. Maybe... maybe if we pretend to break up... or... or we go talk to him right now and tell him he’s being positively ridiculous!” Marinette stood up, clenching her fists as her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.

Honestly, Adrien wouldn’t be surprised if she stormed into his house at that moment and punched his father directly in the face. But he couldn’t let her do that.

He stood up too, taking one of her clenched fists in his hand as he squeezed it tightly. Slowly, it relaxed until she entwined their fingers together, her eyes softening into a solemn gaze.

“We can’t... I-I’d love for you to stand up to him just like the other day with the pancakes.” Adrien smiled at her, brushing a stray strand of hair that had come loose from one of her pigtails behind her ear. “You were so beautiful that day. But I-I don’t think that you’re the reason my father is sending me to London.”

“What do you mean?” Marinette frowned.

“I’m not sure. It’s just that this was the very same day he told me to cherish my memories with you, and that he understood how passionate and determined you were.” Adrien’s own brow creased as he shook his head. “I’m not sure... I don’t know, I just got the sense that it was more urgent. That there was an important reason that he was shipping me off to spend time with Amelie and Félix. Something I just don’t understand yet.”

Marinette’s eyes fluttered closed as she sucked in a deep breath. Eventually, she opened them with a determined nod. “Alright then! If we can’t convince your father to keep you here, I’ll just have to sneak over to you. London is only a 2-hour ride by train. Will it be harder to see you? Sure! But we can make this work! I love you and you love me and that’s all that matters!”

A surge of gratitude and love for Marinette filled Adrien’s heart as she spoke with such determination and devotion. Leave it to her to make the best of the situation. Why had he ever been terrified of telling her? 

Unable to hold back his emotions any longer, Adrien pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers in a tender, heartfelt first kiss.

Marinette melted into his lips, her arms wrapping around him as they shared a moment of closeness and reassurance. The weight of Adrien's impending departure seemed lighter as they clung to each other, their love a beacon of hope in the face of uncertainty.

Breaking the kiss, Adrien rested his forehead against Marinette's, their breaths mingling in the quiet of her room. "Thank you, Marinette," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Marinette smiled softly, brushing her fingers through his hair. "You won't have to find out. We'll figure this out together, no matter what."

Adrien nodded, a sense of determination settling within his chest. With Marinette by his side, facing whatever challenges lay ahead felt more manageable. They would navigate the distance, finding ways to stay connected despite the miles between them.

As they sat back down together, their hands intertwined once more, Adrien knew that their love was stronger than any distance or obstacle. With Marinette's unwavering support and love, he felt ready to face whatever the future held, even if it meant going to London.

Glancing down, Adrien caught the glint of his ring in the room’s dim light. There was something else he just had to tell her. If Marinette was planning on sneaking to Paris by train once in a while, he could certainly make a few trips to Paris. And his journey to her would be much faster. But he could only do so once she knew everything.

Adrien gazed into Marinette's eyes, his heart racing with both nervousness and determination. It was time to tell her. He could care less about any consequences at this point.

"Marinette," he began, his voice steady but tinged with vulnerability, "there's something else I need to tell you."

Marinette looked at him, a frown of concern between her brows. "Better or worse than you moving to London?"

With a small chuckle, Adrien shook his head. He sucked in a deep, trembling breath. “Better, I-I hope. It... it’s going to make the journey to see you much quicker.” Her frown deepened and she opened her mouth to speak but before she could, he confessed the one secret he had never shared with anyone. "I'm Chat Noir."

Marinette blinked in surprise, her eyes widening with shock. "Ch-Chat Noir?"

Adrien nodded, his gaze fixed on hers. "Yes, that's me. Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste are one and the same."

Suddenly, she burst into a fit of laughter that had him frowning with concern. "Y-you’re Chat Noir?!" Marinette managed to gasp out in between giggles.

“Yes.” His frown deepened. What was going on?

After a few more moments of intense laughter, Marinette eventually straightened up. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with pure joy. “God, that makes so much sense now. The way you both move. The way you both talk!”  

She chuckled again before grinning shyly. “Well, since you told me that, I feel it’s only fair that I also tell you that I can make this journey shorter.”

“What are you talking abou-”

Adrien immediately cut himself off as Marinette slowly circled the earrings in her ears. “I-I’m Ladybug.”

There were a few moments of stunned silence that had Marinette squirming uncomfortably. When he saw her hands begin to shake, he knew she was going to start rambling. Before she could panic herself into thinking she shared too much, however, Adrien dove for her.

Wrapping his arms around her as tightly as possible, he crushed his lips against hers in a deep, passionate kiss. “I love you,” he murmured after pulling away. “So much.”

“I love you too,” Marinette stroked his cheek before connecting their lips back together in another kiss.

Chapter Text

Marinette and Adrien sat side by side on a cozy blanket spread out on the grassy hill. The night sky above them was a canvas of twinkling stars, casting a magical glow over everything. They had chosen this spot for their date, wanting to escape the city lights and immerse themselves in the beauty of the starlit sky.

"It's so peaceful here," Marinette murmured, leaning back on her elbows and gazing up at the stars.

Adrien nodded in agreement, his eyes tracing the constellations. "Yeah, it's like we have our own little corner of the universe."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound being the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. Adrien shifted closer to Marinette, their shoulders touching as they both continued to admire the night sky.

"Look," Marinette said, pointing to a particularly bright star. "That one's my favorite. It always feels like it's watching over us."

Adrien followed her gaze, a soft smile playing on his lips. "It's like our own personal starlight."

Marinette smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through her at Adrien's words. "Exactly. And no matter where we go, we can always look up and find it there."

He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers as they lay back on the blanket, content in each other's company and the serenity of the starlit night. They didn't need words to express the connection they felt under the vast expanse of stars, their hearts speaking a language that only the night sky could understand.

As the night deepened, Adrien began to trace patterns in the sky, connecting invisible lines between stars to form the imaginary constellations that they made up. Marinette watched him with a soft smile, captivated by the way his eyes lit up with wonder.

"You're really good at this," Marinette murmured softly, her gaze following his movements.

Adrien chuckled softly. "I used to do this a lot when I was younger. With, um, with my maman. She said that it was like finding the stories in the stars."

She nodded, scooting closer to him as she captured one of his hands in hers. She squeezed it tightly as she rested her head on his shoulder. "And what story do you see tonight?"

Adrien grinned down at her. He brushed his hand down her cheek before forcing his gaze to move back to the stars. He cleared his throat before beginning his story. "I see a tale of two souls destined to meet under the starlight. They face challenges and adventures but always find their way back to each other, guided by the same stars that brought them together."

Marinette's heart fluttered at his words, feeling the weight of their own journey reflected in the imaginary story he painted. "That was really beautiful, Adrien."

He turned to her, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "Just like you."

She felt her cheeks burn a rosy red, feeling a rush of warmth at his compliment. "Shush you! You always know how to make me feel so special."

Adrien smiled, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. "Because you are special, Marinette. To me, you're like the brightest star in the sky."

She giggled, pecking a kiss on his cheek as they lay there together, lost in the moment and the magic of the starlit night. Time seemed to stand still as they shared dreams, hopes, and whispered promises under the watchful gaze of the stars. And in that quiet embrace, surrounded by the soft glow of starlight, they both felt their love strengthen even more than they had ever thought was possible.

Chapter Text

“It’s bad luck to see a bride in her wedding dress, you know,” Marinette said, shooting a grin over her shoulder as she heard Adrien step inside the room she was working in. A sewing needle was in her mouth as she worked on the white, lacy gown.

“Ah, yes, but you’re not exactly in the wedding dress, now are you?” he asked, raising a brow as he smirked back. “You’re just creating it.”

Marinette simply laughed, standing up with a roll of her eyes. She stepped back, leaning her head against Adrien’s shoulder as she admired the dress she had begun creating for their wedding. “Looks good though, no?” she murmured softly. “I hated it in the beginning but I think it’s growing on me. I’m almost positive I’ll like it when it’s time for our wedding.”

Adrien chuckled back, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "It looks more than good, Marinette. It looks positively stunning, just like you." His words were sincere, filled with admiration for both the dress and the woman beside him.

She blushed, turning to meet his gaze. "You always know how to make me feel special," she said softly, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I can't wait for you to see the finished piece on our wedding day."

"I can't wait either," Adrien replied, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “I’m sure it’ll look much better on its final model.”

As they stood together, Marinette felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. The journey that had led them to this point had been filled with challenges and adventures, but through it all, their love had only grown stronger. 

She couldn't help but marvel at how far they had come since the days of her not-so-secret crush on him. It still seemed almost baffling that she was set to marry him. The boy she had been dreaming of since she was a young teenager.

Adrien ran a hand through her hair, his touch gentle and reassuring. "Remember when we first met?" he mused, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.

Marinette chuckled, a fond glimmer in her eyes. "How could I forget? You were the new student in school and I positively hated you for putting that chewing gum on my seat."

He groaned, tapping her nose playfully which she scrunched at him. “How many times do I need to tell you that I never put that chewing gum on your seat? That was all Chloé’s doing. I was just trying to help take it off.”

“So you say,” she teased, a smirk teasing at the edges of her lips.

“Alright, alright,” Adrien chuckled, putting his hands up. “The second time we met.”

Marinette hummed, leaving his arms to rock on her heels in front of him with an even larger grin. “Mmm, do you perhaps mean the time when we saved Paris together and you fell head over heels for me when I stood up to Hawkmoth?”

Adrien rolled his eyes, closing the distance as he grasped her waist. He leaned down, his nose grazing against hers lightly. “Alright then, the third time we met. The time you fell positively head over heels for me. When I handed you my umbrella that day in the rain and you blushed and stammered as it closed directly on top of this cute little head of yours.”

Marinette threw her head back in a loud laugh. She shook her head after a bit, shaking her head at him with a pair of amused, glimmering blue eyes. Their banter was easy, built up over years of knowing and loving each other. She leaned into Adrien's embrace, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her. She knew with absolute certainty that she had found her soulmate in him, someone who understood her dreams and supported her every step of the way.

"Speaking of designs," Adrien began, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "have you thought about what song we'll dance to at our wedding?"

Marinette's heart fluttered at the mention of their wedding. It was a day she had dreamed about since before they had even started dating, a day where they would pledge their love to each other in front of their friends and family.

"I have a few ideas," she admitted with a playful glint in her eyes. "But it has to be something special, something that captures the magic of this moment."

Adrien nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "We'll know it when we hear it," he said confidently. "Just like we knew we were meant to be together."

“Mmm, don’t you think that might take a little longer?” She giggled. “God knows it took us quite a while to realize that we were both in love with each other.”

“You’re right,” he chuckled. “Hopefully it doesn’t take us as long as that. Why don’t we try listening to a few now.”

Adrien tapped a few buttons on his phone, letting a beautiful, soft piano melody play around them. Marinette hummed lightly, her eyes fluttering closed as she moved her head along to the slow rhythm of the song. It really was lovely.

When her eyes opened, she saw his arm extended out to her. Smiling, Marinette let him pull her into a gentle dance, swaying to the melody of their potential future wedding song. In that moment, surrounded by love and possibility, Marinette couldn't help but smile. She was exactly where she was meant to be, in Adrien's arms, discussing the plans that would draw them closer to their forever. 

As they swayed together, their conversation drifted to more wedding planning details, each of them bringing up their different ideas from the venue to the guest list. Each decision brought them closer together, solidifying their commitment to each other.

As the sun began to set outside, casting a warm glow into the room, Marinette felt a surge of anticipation for their future. She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as they faced them together, they could overcome anything.

Chapter Text

“Claws in!” Adrien called out, detransforming with a panting breath. He fell back against Marinette’s table, head in his hands as he tried to calm his racing heart. His mind was awhirl, lost in panic and confusion as the vision of himself cradling a crumbling Ladybug filled his head. 

Stop it! Stop it! It was over! He already defeated the akuma!

He clenched his eyes shut, trying to rid himself of the vision but it didn’t work. Instead, it seemed to make it worse as the image of Ladybug appeared to crumble in his arms. She disappeared, blown away by the wind and Adrien cried out in pain.

“What’s happening, Adrien?” Plagg asked, hovering nearby with a pair of wide, concerned green eyes.

He shook his head, panting, “Ladybug didn’t perform a Miraculous Ladybug. The nightmare’s still here!” Adrien forced his eyes shut even tighter, banging his fists against his head in the hopes this would rid him of the panic that was gripping his heart. 

As lost as he was in the whirl of his mind, he didn’t hear the creak of the trapdoor as Marinette poked her head out to look outside. He didn’t see her lips gape open in shock at the surprise of seeing him far... far away from London. He did, however, hear her gasp of incredulity as she threw her arms around him, pulling him into her embrace. Instantly, without thinking, Adrien collapsed into Marinette’s arms, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of her perfume.

"Oh my god! Adrien, what are you doing here? What's wrong?" She rocked him in her arms, slowly running her hands through his hair.

He simply shook his head, clenching his eyes shut tighter as tears leaked from the corners.

“Are you hurt? Did you jump off of the plane?” Marinette muttered to herself. Her hands moved from his hair to run along his sides, searching for wounds. After a few seconds, she scoffed, “What am I saying did you jump from the plane? Of course, you didn’t jump. You’d have died if you did. But then how could you have gotten here from London? Doesn’t matter! What matters is you’re here and safe!”  

Marinette’s ramblings actually had Adrien cracking open an eye to peek up at her. Leave it to Marinette to be able to combat the effects of an akuma attack that had him reeling. A small smile began to spread across his lips as he managed to mutter, “Akuma.”

  “Akuma?” she asked questioningly, her brow furrowing before her eyes widened with understanding. “Akuma!” 

She pulled out her phone, her worried frown growing deeper as she read something there. Marinette shook her head, placing her phone back in her pocket as she seemed to get lost in thought. 

“Marinette?” Adrien asked weakly. “Are you alright?”

She blinked down at him. “Yes! I’m fine! But obviously, you’re not. Do you happen to know what this akuma’s power was? The ability to put you in two places at once? Or... or transport you?”

He grimaced, his heart racing once more with fear. “No... nightmares,” he whispered.

“Oh, you poor thing.” Marinette’s eyes softened considerably as she clutched him to her tighter. After a few silent, wonderful moments, she murmured. “And you need Ladybug’s lucky charm to fix everything I’m guessing?”

Adrien nodded, burying his head further into her arms.

Her grip on him loosened as she stared down at him sadly. “Then I’m afraid I’ll have to leave now, Adrien,” Marinette said, gently running her thumb across his cheek.

“Leave?” he questioned, frowning up on her. He tightened his hands that were clutching to her waist. He didn’t want her to go. She was the only thing left that was keeping him from going positively insane.

“This isn’t how I imagined telling you, but it’s necessary. The only way you’re going to get better is if I go and purify that akuma.”

Adrien felt like he was choking. It felt like he had just been hit by a wrecking ball. Suddenly, everything made so much more sense. Because if Marinette needed to purify the akuma, then that meant...

“Tikki, spots on!” she called, a wave of pink light bubbled around her as she began to transform right before his eyes.

Ladybug knelt down before him, her gloved hand trailing along his cheek, in a manner that was just so Marinette. “I’ll be right back, my love. I’d take you with me, but it just wouldn’t be safe for you. I’m not certain where this akuma is or what Chat Noir has or hasn’t done yet.”

“I do.” He grinned up at her.

“What?” Ladybug frowned back at him before her mouth gaped open as Adrien called on his own transformation, green light engulfing him just the same. 

Chat managed to stand, the nightmare abating some as he focused on the fact that Ladybug stood directly before him. “The akuma’s been taken care of already, m’lady. All that’s left is for you to use your Miraculous Ladybugs.”

Quick as a flash, he felt her arms wrap around his neck as she threw herself into his arms. “So is that how you got to Paris so quickly?”

He chuckled, clutching her to him just as tightly. “You caught me. This was the real reason I had come to your balcony. I wanted to tell you I was Chat Noir but got a little cat up on the way.”

Ladybug pulled back, rolling her sparkling blue eyes at him as she gave a familiar, bubbly giggle. “You absolutely have the same sense of humor with those puns of yours. I should have seen it before.”

“Well, lady’s first.” Chat gestured for her to lead the way, eager for them to purify the akuma and discuss what this would mean for them.

She pecked his cheek, whispering, “I’m glad it was you, Adrien.” 

Quick as a flash, she took her yo-yo, wrapping it around a nearby rooftop before swinging away. With the extension of his baton, he followed her. Just like always.

Chapter Text

Adrien and Marinette sat on the balcony of their cozy Parisian apartment, sipping on hot cocoa as they watched the city lights twinkle in the distance. The soft glow of the moon bathed them in a warm embrace, casting a serene ambiance around them. They finally got to take a brief moment of rest as their kids were inside, sleeping for what would hopefully be the rest of the night.

Marinette sighed contentedly, leaning her head on Adrien's shoulder. "I dreamed about times like this, you know," she mused, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. “Us and the three kids. I had their names picked out since middle school and everything.”

Adrien wrapped an arm around Marinette, gazing into her eyes with affection. "And what beautiful names they are," he said, brushing a kiss against her forehead. "You know, I’d still give everything to go and tell younger you that someday you’d end up married to me. And that we’d use those names you picked out and everything. I’d just love to see you blush and stammer again."

She shoved his shoulder, rolling her eyes at him even as her lips twitched with amusement. “And I’d love to go tell middle school you that he’d end up married to Ladybug. I’m sure he’d turn just as red if not redder.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and Adrien threw his head back in a loud laugh. “You know, you’re probably right,” he managed to say after his laughter subsided.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they sipped on their hot cocoa. They looked out at the beautiful, twinkling stars, listening to the sounds of the streets of Paris that came from below them. It was peaceful. A wonderful, warm night.

Marinette eventually broke the silence by giggling, her eyes twinkling with fond memories. "Remember when Emma turned our living room into an art studio, and we found paint on everything, including Plagg?"

Adrien chuckled, nodding in agreement. "How could I forget? Plagg wouldn’t shut up about that incident for weeks. He forced me to buy him boxes and boxes of camembert to make up for it." His voice turned more nasally as he attempted to do an impression of the kwami. “Gods are not meant to be purple, Adrien. Tell your offspring to paint the canvas. Not me.”

Marinette snorted. “Yes, I do remember that! Tikki was positively delighted by Plagg’s little color change. She laughed at him every chance she got. Between you and me, I think she even tried to get little Emma to do it again.”

“My lips are sealed,” Adrien said, making a gesture of zipping his lips shut.

"And what about sweet Louis?" Marinette continued with a playful glint in her eyes. "Our little explorer who once convinced us to go on a 'treasure hunt' in the park, only to find a collection of shiny rocks and leaves."

Adrien laughed, shaking his head fondly at the memory. "He's got my adventurous spirit, that's for sure. And adorable, baby Hugo has always been fascinated by the simplest things in nature. I love how he finds beauty in everything around him."

"He gets that from you too, Adrien," Marinette remarked, a soft smile on her face. "You've always had a way of seeing the beauty in the world."

“Then little Emma definitely inherited your artistic talent.” He grinned back at her.

“Of course she did!” she said proudly, lifting up her chin. “Who do you think also grew up painting the walls in my parents’ home?”

As they reminisced about their children's antics and milestones, their hearts swelled with gratitude for the family they had created together. Adrien squeezed Marinette's hand gently, his gaze filled with love. "I'm so grateful that we managed to find each other and make a family. Every day is a wonderful adventure with all of you."

Marinette leaned in, pecking a kiss on his cheek. "Me too, Adrien. Our family is everything to me. I wouldn't have it any other way."

They sat together in another companionable silence, basking in the warmth of their affection and the knowledge that their home was filled with the laughter and love of Emma, Louis, and Hugo. As the night grew deeper, they knew that their bond as a family would only continue to grow stronger with each passing day.