Chapter Text
Marinette is tired the next morning, after having spent so many nights in a row with Chat Noir. School is just as early as always, even on Valentine’s Day, and Marinette has to force herself out of bed with a groan.
She didn’t sleep nearly enough last night. She tossed and turned, her mind going in circles; today’s the day, today’s the day. She finally drifted off somewhere around two or three AM, but it was a restless sleep, which she soon woke up from with the jolting thought of today’s the day forcing its way into her brain like the songs that stick in your head and just will not go away. By the time morning comes, she isn’t quite sure when she was awake and when she was dreaming.
But it doesn’t matter now. Now it is morning, and she is up, and she is awake for good. Maybe when all this is over she will sleep better, but for now…
Today’s the day.
The thought both excites her and makes her stomach feel like Jell-o. She barely makes it through the morning, just a mindless zombie working as quickly as possible toward her goal of getting to school. Getting to school to see Adrien. Seeing Adrien and telling him… telling him…
Telling him.
If she can’t even think it to herself, how is she supposed to say it aloud? In front of him?
She takes a deep breath, drawing her mother’s questioning look.
“Today’s the day,” Marinette says. “And nothing’s going to stop me. I’m going to tell Adrien today… tell him that I like him.”
Her hand shoots up to cover her mouth, and she knocks over her cup of milk. Her mother just sighs at her sheepish beam, and hands over the roll of paper towels. This morning isn’t much different than any other. Not yet, at least. Marinette knows she has declared that she’s going to let Adrien know before, but today…
Today will be different. She can feel it.
When Marinette arrives at school, everything is fine. She’s completely calm. She gives Alya a jittery smile, holds up a glittery Valentine and a bag of chocolates, and tries not to fidget too much.
But when Adrien arrives at school, Marinette freezes.
“Alyaaaaaa…” she hisses, throwing herself onto her friend. “Is there a window I can jump through or something? Please?”
Alya laughs and pulls the other girl’s hands off her shoulders. “Nuh uh. You’re not getting out of it this easily. You already decided, remember? Adrien is looking forward to you getting the guy. So… go get him!”
Marinette doesn’t budge, her heart hammering in her throat. “I don’t think now is the best time,” she says breathlessly. “I’d rather wait until after school. You know, in case he says no and decides to throw me in prison for being a creepy stalker so I can never get close to him again, so I can run home and pack my bags and move across the world so he never has to see my face again, and live as a fugitive for the rest of my life, running from one country to the next, never stopping because Adrien’s a model and travels all the time and I can’t be in the same country as him or I’ll be caught, so I get a gang of cats and we go and fight crime across the world from whatever country Adrien is in, because if I’m already wanted, I can do whatever I want so I decide to fight crime from the goodness of my heart, and…”
“Okay, girl, calm down.” Alya looks amused. “I would have let you go on with that crazy fantasy story, but I know how you can get and I do want to get to class some time. Go ahead, after class, fine. But you actually have to do it.”
“I promise,” Marinette says breathlessly. “Alya, you’re the best.”
“You know it, girl.” Alya pats her shoulder. “Just don’t let the chocolate melt.”
Marinette smiles sheepishly.
Adrien shoots encouraging smiles and thumbs up at Marinette throughout the school day. Her heart plummets in her stomach.
She should have told him just like she had planned to, right when she had planned to. This whole thing has become far too extravagant, and Adrien is waiting for her to make a move. He’s going to be so disappointed if she doesn’t do it.
But he’s going to be so disappointed if she does do it, too.
When the school day ends, Marinette can’t help but glance at the door. She could make a break for it. No one would know her cowardice. Except for her, Alya, and Adrien. And Chat Noir, probably.
She takes a deep breath and tries to calm down her frayed nerves. Her hands shake as they grip the gift.
“Marinette!” Adrien greets her with a blinding smile. Marinette feels like she’s about to throw up.
“H-hey A-Adrien,” she squeaks out. Great. Back to ground zero. She’d been doing so well…
He points to the Valentine. “Are you going to give it out? I mean, you haven’t, right? You’re still holding it. Do you want me there? Or do you want me to leave?”
Well. It’s now or never.
“A-actually… this Valentine is for…” She takes a deep breath and rushes to speak. “ The Valentine is for Chat Noir! ”
Oh no.
Oh no .
Adrien’s stomach sinks to his shoes. Marinette has a crush on him . He can scarcely believe it. Marinette’s a wonderful person, sure. She’s a kind and thoughtful friend and he likes her a lot. But he’s never thought of her that way. He’s not even sure that he could. Not with Ladybug in the picture.
A strange warmth fills him, immediately followed by a strange cold. He’s touched, really. But how is he supposed to turn Marinette down? What is he supposed to do?
He numbly realizes she’s staring at him and he forces a smile. “That’s great, Marinette! I wish you luck!”
He feels like the ugliest liar in the world.
Marinette feels like the ugliest liar in the world.
Ladybug is already at the Eiffel Tower when Chat Noir arrives. She’s sitting down, bent over something, though Chat can’t quite make out what it is.
He pulls himself out of his disjointed thoughts and forces a smile. “Well? How are you doing on this fine Valentine’s Day, my lady?”
“Pretty terribly.” Her voice is hoarse. Chat dimly realizes she’s been crying. He slides down to sit next to her and puts his arm around her. He closes his eyes and leans back as he listens. “I tried confessing to my crush today. I had his gift in my hand and everything. It didn’t go well.”
“Did he reject you?” Chat asks. The notion seems ridiculous. Who would ever have the heart to reject his lady?
“No.” She sniffles. “I didn’t give him the chance. I… I actually panicked and lied about it. I told him I was in love with you.”
Chat opens his eyes. “...Oh. I’m sorry. I’m sure he’d accept your gift if you gave it to him. It doesn’t have to be a Valentine’s Day thing.”
“No.” She wipes her nose. “I’m done. I already messed up. I might as well give this to someone who I know will appreciate it.” She thrusts the Valentine into his lap. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Chat.”
Chat Noir stares down at it. He recognizes it, chocolates and all.
“...Marinette?” He breathes.
She jolts. “What?”
No way. There’s no way.
He bursts out laughing. “No offense, Marinette, but we’re both pretty stupid.” He likes the way her name fits on his lips. It’s perfect. She’s perfect. How could he ever have thought he would reject her?
“Chat, what do you mean?” she presses. “How do you know who I am?”
Chat feels himself grin. It all feels like a perfect dream. “I helped you make this Valentine.”
If Ladybug were still holding the Valentine, she probably would have dropped it. “ Adrien? ”
He laughs. “Let me get this straight. I helped you make a Valentine… for me.”
Ladybug flushes and opens her mouth to respond, but he continues before she can.
“And I came to you to talk about my crush… on you. But you were too busy crushing on me. And then you gave me the Valentine meant for myself.”
Ladybug lets out a breathless laugh. It’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever heard.
“I can’t believe it,” she says.
Chat Noir laughs too. “I can’t believe it either. We were so blind. How did I not realize the girl I loved was right in front of me?”
“The girl you love?” she echoes.
It’s Chat’s turn to turn bright red.
Then Ladybug smiles. “And how did I not realize that the boy I loved was right by my side?” She laughs. “You’re right. We were both kind of idiots.”
Chat smiles shyly. “So what do you say, Bugaboo?” He holds up the Valentine they worked on together. “Will you be my Valentine? I think we have a dinner reservation we need to head to.”
She smiles. “Only if you’ll eat some amateurly made chocolates with me.”
He bumps her fist. “It’s a date.”