Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ladybug had finally—finally—given in to Chat Noir’s relentless campaign to get her phone number. His persistence was almost impressive, if not a little exhausting, and after what felt like the millionth request, she caved.

While he was practically vibrating with excitement, she remained skeptical. Sure, they probably didn’t know each other in real life, but the possibility was still there. A risk. And Ladybug hated risks. Especially ones that could put her or her partner in danger.

"Remember, Chaton, this is for emergencies only," she warned, leveling him with an unamused stare. "Not for bugging me all day."

Chat Noir’s ears twitched as he stifled a chuckle. "You just made a pun, didn’t you?"

She blinked, then groaned as realization hit.

"Of course, m’lady," he continued with a smirk. "I would never dream of bugging you."

"Ugh. This is exactly why I was hesitant to give you my number," she muttered, shaking her head.

Chat placed a dramatic paw over his heart. "You wound me, Bugaboo."

"Patrol’s over. We should head home. I’ll text you when I can. Goodbye, Chaton." Before he could open his mouth for another quip, Ladybug pulled out her yo-yo and zipped away into the Parisian night, leaving him grinning like an idiot.

Marinette sat on her bed, gripping her phone like it was a ticking time bomb.

"Alright, Mari. Just type it in. Then he’ll have a way to contact you when you’re needed… even as a civilian," she whispered, psyching herself up.

Tikki hovered beside her, frowning. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked, her tone full of motherly concern.

Marinette exhaled sharply. "Paris is a huge city, Tikki. The chances of us knowing each other in real life are… slim. It’s fine."

She typed Chat Noir’s number into her contacts, her thumb hesitating over the enter button before she gulped and pressed it.

Beep!

A notification popped up on her screen.

This number is already saved in your contacts.

Marinette froze.

Her pulse skyrocketed as a second notification followed.

Adrien sat on his bed, phone in hand, trying to calm his racing heart.

He had Ladybug’s number.

Unrestricted access to his lady. His love.

He could send her memes. Good morning texts. Ask her how her day was. Compliment her brilliance. Maybe even—dare he dream?—flirt over text.

Beside him, Plagg let out a long-suffering sigh. "Kid, if you don’t put her number in your phone right now, I’ll do it for you. And I’ll send something really embarrassing while I’m at it."

Adrien yelped. "Okay, okay! I’m doing it!" He licked his lips, his hands clammy as he typed in Ladybug’s number and hit save.

Beep!

A notification appeared.

This number is already saved in your contacts.

Adrien frowned. "Huh?"

Another notification popped up.

Saved as: Adrien Agreste.

Her phone clattered to the floor as if it had burned her.

"No. No, no, NO!" she shrieked, scrambling backward like the device was infected with a deadly virus.

Tikki sighed knowingly. "I did tell you it wasn’t the best idea…"

"But—but—he can’t be Chat Noir!" Marinette wailed, gripping her head. "Adrien is… sophisticated! Model-like! Cool! And Chat Noir is—"

Tikki tilted her head. "Charming, funny, dramatic, kind, and a little ridiculous?"

"EXACTLY!" Marinette threw her hands up before groaning. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no. That means—" She covered her face. "That means I fell in love with him. And worse, he was right!"

Tikki giggled as Marinette groaned louder, flopping onto her bed.

"And if he finds out—" she peeked through her fingers, "—he’s going to be so smug about it!"

Saved as: Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

He blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then his brain shattered.

"WHAT!?" He practically threw his phone across the room before diving after it, eyes wild. "Marinette is—?!"

Plagg snickered. "Yup. And you’ve been in love with her this entire time."

Adrien gaped. "OH MY KWAMI! How did I not see it before!?" He grabbed his hair, tugging at it in disbelief. "They’re— They’re practically the same person! The stammering, the awkwardness, the brilliance—"

Plagg smirked. "Well, well, well. Look who finally put two and two together."

Adrien let out a strangled laugh, rolling onto his back. "This is the best day of my life!"

Plagg cackled. "Oh, it’s about to get even better. Imagine her reaction when she finds out!"

Adrien’s grin stretched wide. "Oh, she’s going to hate this."

His giddy laughter filled the room.

Marinette did not want to go to school.

Adrien was Chat Noir.

She had kissed Chat Noir.

Which meant she had kissed Adrien.

Sure, she had been saving him at the time, but still. She had rejected Chat Noir in pursuit of Adrien—who was, in fact, the same person. The irony was so painful she wanted to curl into a ball and roll into the Seine.

“Mari? You’re going to be late if you don’t get going,” Sabine’s voice floated up from downstairs.

“Yes, Maman. I’m going,” Marinette groaned, reluctantly dragging herself out of bed. There was no avoiding it. She was going to have to face Adrien.

She should have anticipated that Adrien would be waiting for her at the entrance. But she had been in too much of a rush, too lost in her own spiraling thoughts to pay attention to her surroundings. So when she finally noticed him, it was already too late.

In a flash, Adrien scooped her up into his arms bridal-style.

“Hello, purrincess~” he purred, grinning down at her like the Cheshire Cat.

Marinette froze. Her brain stalled. Her entire existence shriveled into a singular, catastrophic thought: Oh no.

"Oh! Hi Adrien! Hi Adrien! Hi—” she stammered, her voice tripping over itself like a malfunctioning robot. Abort mission! System failure! I repeat—

‘Alya is going to see this. She is going to question me the entire day. I won’t be able to explain it. I’ll die. I will literally—’

With a defeated groan, Marinette dropped her head against her chest, folding her arms in a desperate attempt to appear normal. Not that it helped, considering she was still very much being carried through the school courtyard.

“Aww, is my princess upset?” Adrien teased, his smirk deepening. “Don’t worry, I—”

“ADRIKINS!”

The high-pitched screech cut through the air like nails on a chalkboard.

Adrien didn't even flinch. He didn’t slow down. Didn’t even bother turning around.

Marinette, however, immediately stiffened.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

“Adrien! Look at me when I’m talking to you!” Chloe huffed, the sound of her heels clicking angrily against the pavement. “ADRIEN!”

With an exasperated sigh, Adrien finally turned around, still holding Marinette effortlessly in his arms. “Sorry, Chloe. I’m delivering my princess to class. Stop interrupting.”

Chloe’s jaw dropped.

Her wide, horrified gaze flickered between Adrien and Marinette. Then back to Adrien. Then back to Marinette.

“I—WHAT—BAKER GIRL?!” she shrieked, practically combusting on the spot. “This is ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!”

Adrien just shrugged, adjusting his grip on Marinette as if she were the most natural accessory in the world, before turning back toward their classroom.

Marinette, now the color of a tomato, groaned into her hands. This was going to be a long day.

Lila had always hated Marinette. But today? Today, she despised her.

She had tried to sit next to Adrien—claiming, with a dramatic sigh, that her horrible tinnitus required her to be at the front. Normally, she could manipulate the situation in her favor. Normally, Adrien was too polite to refuse.

But today, Adrien wasn’t having any of it.

“Sorry, Lila,” he said, completely unfazed. “Marinette’s sitting next to me from now on. You’ll have to find another seat.”

The words hit Lila like a slap to the face.

Before she could protest, Alya casually offered the spot next to her, and Nino slid into the seat beside Marinette. The arrangement ended up with Marinette sitting between Adrien and Nino, while Alya and Lila were seated behind them.

Marinette could feel Lila’s seething glare burning into her back.

She straightened her posture, trying her best to ignore it.

Let her glare all she wants, Marinette thought. Adrien made his choice.

Marinette was still… adjusting to Adrien’s sudden change in behavior.

Ever since their accidental revelation, he had been so much more relaxed—playful in a way that made her stomach flip. He was making puns at an alarming rate, each one more ridiculous than the last, just to see her blush and pout at him. And when she did react? Oh, he doubled down, grinning like a cat who caught a canary.

But the worst—or best, depending on who you asked—was the physical contact.

Adrien insisted on touching her at all times. Whether it was holding her hand, resting an arm around her shoulders, or casually picking her up just because he could, he always found a way to be right there. And if touching wasn’t an option? He’d settle for standing so close that Marinette swore she could hear his heartbeat.

It was overwhelming.

Which was why, in a desperate bid to breathe, she excused herself to the washroom.

Big mistake.

The moment she was out of Adrien’s presence, Lila struck.

Marinette barely had time to react before she was shoved back against the cool tile wall, Lila’s perfectly manicured nails digging into her shoulder. Her eyes burned with pure venom, her lips curled in a scowl.

"Enjoying yourself, Marinette?" she spat, voice dripping with malice. “You think this little act is going to last? That Adrien will keep falling for your innocent good girl routine?” She leaned in closer, her breath hot against Marinette’s ear. “Just you wait. Soon, he’ll hate you, just like everyone else will.”

Marinette swallowed hard, willing her pounding heart to steady. For once, she almost wished Lila would hit her—something, anything that would give her undeniable proof of what she was capable of.

She could see it now—Lila was furious, seething. If Marinette pushed her just a little further… maybe she’d finally slip up.

So she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and smirked.

“You’re just jealous,” she said smoothly, tilting her head. “Jealous that Adrien is head over heels for me instead of whatever twisted fantasy you’ve convinced yourself you’re living in.”

Lila’s entire body tensed. Her nails dug into Marinette’s shoulder, her teeth gritting so hard it was almost audible.

Marinette braced herself. Come on, just one little shove. One slap. Just do it.

But then, just as suddenly as the fury appeared, it was gone.

Lila let out a slow, breathy laugh. She pulled back, smoothing out her blouse as if she were the composed one here.

"You think you’re so smart, don’t you?" she mused, cocking her head. "But don’t worry. One day soon, you’ll slip up. And when you do…" She leaned in, whispering right against Marinette’s ear.

"That’ll be the day you lose everything."

And with that, she sauntered out, her heels clicking against the tile floor, leaving Marinette to let out the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding.

Adrien immediately noticed something was off. The moment Marinette stepped back into the classroom, her usual energy was gone. She looked pale, her shoulders tense, and there was a flicker of something uneasy in her eyes.

His instincts flared, and in an instant, he was at her side.

“Marinette?” he asked, concern lacing his voice. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

Before she could react, he reached out, pressing the back of his hand gently against her forehead. She stiffened, startled by the sudden touch, but he barely noticed. He was too busy assessing her—searching for any sign of illness, exhaustion, or anything that could explain why she looked like she’d just seen a ghost.

Marinette bit her lip. She wanted to brush it off, to tell him everything was fine, that nothing had happened. But the way he was looking at her—his brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line—she knew he wouldn’t let it slide so easily.

So she forced a smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, voice steady but too rehearsed.

Adrien’s eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn’t convinced.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, lowering his hand but not stepping away. “You seem… off.”

Marinette forced a small laugh, waving a hand dismissively. “I just—uh, I got a little dizzy for a second, that’s all. Nothing major!”

She turned quickly, as if that would be the end of the conversation, but Adrien wasn’t buying it. His gaze flickered toward the classroom door, then back to Marinette, his mind racing.

She had left for just a few minutes. That was plenty of time for something to happen. And the way she was acting—it wasn’t the usual flustered, lovesick Marinette he knew. No, this was different. She was nervous. Defensive.

And Adrien didn’t like that.

His eyes instinctively scanned the room. That’s when he noticed her.

Lila sat in her seat, looking entirely too pleased with herself. She didn’t even glance in their direction, but there was an unmistakable smugness in her posture, like she knew something he didn’t.

Adrien’s jaw tightened.

Did she do something?

Marinette’s voice pulled him back.

“Seriously, Adrien. I’m fine.”

But he wasn’t so sure.

Still, he nodded, letting it go for now. “Alright… but if anything’s wrong, you’ll tell me, right?”

Marinette hesitated for half a second too long. “…Of course.”

Adrien didn’t push further. Instead, he gave her a small smile and nudged her playfully. “Good. Because I was about to say that if you’re sick, I have no problem carrying you princess-style all day.”

Marinette’s face immediately turned red. “W-What?! No! That’s completely unnecessary, I—”

Adrien chuckled, watching as the familiar flustered Marinette returned, her hands waving frantically. But even as he teased her, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had definitely happened.

And he was going to find out what.

Chapter Text

Marinette’s phone buzzed in her pocket, making her jump in the middle of Ms. Mendeleiev’s very important lesson. She nervously glanced around before sneaking a peek at the screen, holding it as if it were a ticking time bomb.

Adrien: Hey Bugaboo, just checking in. When should I start patrolling your heart tonight? 😏💖💘

Marinette groaned, resisting the urge to slam her head against the desk.

Marinette: Noooo, not puns… 😩 But, we should start patrolling Paris early tonight. I want to get some sleep.

Her phone buzzed again almost immediately.

Adrien: Can we have a sleepover tonight? I miss your parents’ chouquettes and croissants. 🥺💞

Marinette rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her lips.

Marinette: Fine, as long as you play Mecha Strike 3 against me.

There was a pause, and then:

Adrien: Aw, but you always win in that game. 😭 But your winning face is so cute, so fine.

Marinette’s face heated up, and she quickly stuffed her phone away, not wanting to get caught by Ms. Mendeleiev or—worse—Alya, who would absolutely demand to know why she was blushing.

What she didn’t notice, however, was Lila smirking from a few rows behind her.

Lila had already started laying the groundwork for her latest plan, carefully twisting the narrative against Marinette. Whispers had begun circulating among their classmates—little lies planted in hushed tones, sowing seeds of doubt and distrust.

"Marinette thinks she's better than everyone just because she bakes," Lila had told Rose.

"She actually bullied me into giving up my seat next to Adrien," she had lamented to Mylène.

"She even threatened me in the bathroom," she whispered dramatically to Alix.

It didn’t take much. Just a few carefully crafted words. A well-placed sigh. A delicate tear or two.

Marinette had no idea.

But soon enough, she would.

During their patrol, Chat Noir was being, well, Chat Noir. The night was unusually quiet—almost too quiet—and Hawkmoth hadn't made an appearance. This gave Chat the perfect opportunity to indulge in his playful side. With a grin, he decided there was no better time than now to carry Ladybug.

She didn’t protest. In fact, she was secretly relieved. The crisp night air had a biting chill to it, and she was exhausted from a long day of fighting akumas. Chat’s arms were warm, and the rhythmic motion of his movements as he leapt across the rooftops made her feel safe. The comfort soon lulled her, and before she realized it, she had relaxed into his embrace, her eyes fluttering closed.

Her breathing evened out, a quiet hum of contentment escaping her lips.

She didn’t even notice when he had gently placed her down onto a rooftop, her head still fuzzy with sleep. The air felt a little colder now that she wasn’t nestled in his arms, but she was still too groggy to pay much attention. However, the second she sensed a shift—something in the air—her instincts kicked in.

Something’s wrong.

But it was too late.

A sudden burst of laughter erupted from her, unhinged and uncontrollable. Chat Noir had started to tickle her. She hadn’t expected it at all, and the shock caused her to break into giggles before she could even stop herself.

“Chat Noir! What the heck?!” She gasped between fits of laughter, trying desperately to wriggle out of his grasp. She was squirming like a fish caught in a net, unable to escape the relentless tickling.

He held her tighter, an insufferable smirk tugging at his lips as he teased her. “Okay, okay! I’m awake! I’m awake!” Ladybug squealed, raising her hands in defeat, signaling her surrender.

“I know, Bugaboo,” he purred, his voice teasing yet playful. “But that’s not why I’m doing this.”

Ladybug blinked, still fighting to get a breath through her laughter. “For what reason, then?” she asked between giggles, her sides aching from the sudden attack.

“For fun, of course,” he replied with a casual shrug, not showing the slightest intention of letting up.

Ladybug shot him a look, half exasperated and half amused. “You’re impossible,” she panted, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

He chuckled, still not relinquishing his grip. “I know, and you love it.”

With a playful glint in his eye, Chat lowered his hands, allowing her to regain some composure. She shot him a look of mock annoyance, but there was no mistaking the faint smile tugging at her lips.

“I should have known you’d never let me get away with sleeping on the job so easily,” she said, still a little breathless, but the twinkle in her eye showed she wasn’t entirely upset.

“Oh, but you’re not off the hook yet, my lady,” he teased, his tone light but challenging. “This is just the beginning.”

Ladybug raised an eyebrow, now more alert and a little mischievous herself. “We’ll see about that, Chat Noir,” she smirked, taking a step back.

With that, the night’s tension shifted from playful banter to a more familiar rhythm, their partnership unspoken but strong. Chat might have found his fun in teasing her, but Ladybug knew that beneath his antics, he was always there to protect her—just as she would always be there for him.

Even if it meant surviving a tickle attack or two along the way.