Chapter Text
Ladybug sat on the roof of Notre Dame, huddled in on herself. Chat would be there any minute, and she still didn't know what she was going to say to him. Should she tell him she knew? How would she explain without revealing who she was? Tikki still wanted her to keep her identity a secret, but was there even any point hiding it any more? And if she told him, how would he react? Would he be upset? Happy? Angry?
...Would he still like her once he knew?
That was the part that her brain kept getting stuck on. Chat had made no secret about his crush on Ladybug, but he'd also been clear – on both sides of the mask – that Marinette was just a friend. So, if he found out they were the same person, would he feel differently?
Did she feel differently? Knowing that her pun-loving partner was also her crush, was she still in love with him? She'd always thought Chat was dorky, but sweet and honest. Hadn't that been what had attracted her to Adrien in the first place? His awkward honesty, and kindness?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a heavy-sounding thump behind her. She turned.
“Hello Ladybug.”
Chat didn't look like himself tonight. His ears were drooping, and his tail dragged on the ground. It was rare for her to see him looking so dejected. She tried to ignore the uncomfortable weight that settled in her stomach. “Chat. How did it go with your friend?” She wasn't supposed to know yet, not until he told her.
“She turned it down.”
“Oh. It's OK Kitty,” Maybe it was OK for her to know and not him for now. It wasn't like she'd uncovered his identity on purpose.
“There is someone else we can try,” He said tentatively. “A boy in my class. I don't actually know him that well – he kind of keeps to himself, you know? But he's an amazing artist, likes to draw superhero comics in his spare time.”
Does he mean Nathaniel? She shook her head. “There's no rush Chat, we have time to think of something else.” He'd probably agree to help eagerly enough, but she couldn't see Nathaniel handling the stress that well.
Chat's shoulders slumped in defeat. “I'm really sorry LB.” Her heart ached for him. She can see it now, Adrien's face peering out from behind Chat's mask. He looks so upset with himself, and it's all her fault. Secret identities are still important, but there had to be some way to make him feel better.
“It isn't your fault Kitty, you can't force Marinette to accept this life. She made her own choice.”
Chat nodded for a moment, then stiffened. He turned his head slowly to face her. “...How did you know it was Marinette?”
“Ummmm...” It's on the tip of her tongue to lie to him. To laugh it off and tell him that Marinette told her – didn't he remember her saying they were friends before? It wouldn't be the first time she lied to protect her identity from him, but that was before she knew who he was. He's staring at her in surprise, confused, and it's Chat Noir's mask but all she can see is Adrien's face.
“I...” She has to say something, anything, and she has to do it right now. The confusion is starting to melt off his face – his gorgeous, handsome, kissable face. (And there's no use denying it now – she's definitely still in love with her dorky kitten.) She can see hurt flashing in his eyes as he comes to probably the worst conclusion, and he's Chat, but he's also Adrien and she can't do that to him.
Screw secret identities. “Spots off!”
Chat clapped a hand over his eyes as Ladybug was washed away by soft pink light. “What are you doing?!”
Ignoring the shrill “I thought we talked about this!” in her ear, she calmly pried Chat's hands from his face. “Look at me Chat.”
He shook his head, eyes still squeezed shut. “You don't want me to know!”
“Maybe I changed my mind.”
“Don't do this,” He murmured, “Don't tell me now just because you feel guilty or something. This was my screw up, you don't owe me anything-”
“I owe you everything Adrien.”
His eyes snapped open, and he gaped. “Wha- M-Marinette?!”
She offered him a sheepish smile. “Hi Kitty.”
“But you- I don't- How did-”
“Once I realised you had to be in my class, it was kind of obvious.”
“...Oh...” Absently she noted Tikki settling down a small distance away, to give them some privacy, but she kept her eyes on Chat's shocked face.
“...I'm sorry about school today,” She said awkwardly. Had she made a mistake telling him like this? Was he going to hate her now? “I panicked.” Please, please don't let him hate her. She could handle him not loving her anymore, but not loosing his friendship. “Are you OK?”
“Yeah, yeah I just- It's you. All this time... but of course it is. It's so obvious now!” He laughed, and Marinette perked up hopefully. If he was laughing then he couldn't be too mad, right? “I can't believe I finally got the chance to pick a new team-mate, and I chose the one I already had!”
“To be fair, you were right about me being good at this.”
Chat doubled over, laughing harder, and Marinette joined him. He wasn't upset, she hadn't ruined what they had! They laughed until they both had tears streaming down their faces, leaning against each other, and eventually coming to rest cuddled together in comfortable silence. Adrien dropped his transformation, and Plagg had just enough time to yell, “Well it's about time!” before Tikki dragged him away. The pair shared a look, and descended into giggles again.
As the giggles subsided Marinette snuggled closer into her partner's side, content with this moment. Tomorrow she would worry about confessing her feelings. Tomorrow she would try to build something new with her beautiful dork of a Kitty. For now, she would enjoy his warmth and just be.
“You know,” Adrien piped up, braking the silence. “We still need to pick someone for the Fox.”