Chapter Text
The shrill ring of an alarm clock, accompanied by an incessant tugging on her hair, woke Marinette up with a start, dragging her from hazy, clouded dreams of golden hair and green, green eyes.
Eyes flying open, she registered a blur of red in the corner of her vision, pulling at her hair. "Wake up, Marinette!" Tikki cried. "You don't want to be late, do you?"
She yawned groggily, through bleary eyes. "Late," she mumbled sleepily, mindlessly repeating after her kwami. "Late… late? Wait..."
Marinette's eyes shot open, arms freezing mid-stretch as panic pierced through her lethargic haze.
"Crap."
Her first instinct was to roll out of bed—but then she remembered, belatedly, that:
- Her sheets were still wrapped around her, effectively encasing her in cloth like a mummy.
- She couldn't actually roll out of bed, because her bed was elevated. Meaning the floor would be one bone-jarring fall away.
Tikki zipped frantically out of her hair, horrified as she tracked Marinette's movements with her big, blue eyes. "Marinette!"
Limbs flailing, she nearly rolled off her loft, but then she felt the cold, thin metal of the railing press against her bare skin, preventing what had promised to be a treacherous fall.
Right. There was a railing.
Marinette heaved a shaky sigh, leaning forward onto the godsent barrier. Cold seeped through her skin from where her forehead had made contact with the steel.
She thanked whoever was listening for her parents' foresight.
"That was close," she muttered.
Tikki laughed weakly, even as her eyes filled with worry. "Maybe… maybe I shouldn't wake you up like that next time," the kwami said apologetically.
Marinette smiled affectionately at her. "Maybe."
But she noticed, as she untangled herself from the sheets, Tikki's usual cheer had yet to return. In an effort to comfort her, Marinette joked, "Hey, at least I got up on time!"
And it worked. Tikki smiled at her, worry forgotten. "Yep, you did!"
"And it's all thanks to you," Marinette said, petting her fondly on her velvet soft head.
Tikki giggled, her laughter tinkling and silvery in the morning daylight, and Marinette felt her spirits lift.
As bad as this morning had started out, at least she'd avoided becoming a Marinette pancake, she thought, a wry smile twisting her lips as she carefully descended the loft ladder, Tikki hovering by her side.
Jumping off the last step, she waltzed over to the folding screen in the corner of her room, grabbing her clothes as she went. She quickly changed out of her pajamas, shucking them off with practiced ease.
Yanking her clothes on, she stuffed her arms into her trademark jacket as she snatched up her purse, Tikki phasing into the bag.
Last night had been the first time she'd seen the kwami actually phase through something, like a ghost. It still rattled her, how something—or, in this case, someone—so solid could pass through a wall or cloth or furniture as if it was nothing.
Marinette shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips. She'd have to get used to it, she supposed. Just like she'd have to get used to having a tiny roommate, and constantly having to sneak up extra cookies, which Tikki had immediately taken a liking to the other day.
Well. At least Tikki was nice, and had so far been cheery and helpful.
Marinette hoped Chat Noir was faring just as well with his kwami.
A blush bloomed on her cheeks at the thought, and she slapped her hands over them before she could open the trapdoor.
Nope! Won't think of him, won't think of him, she chanted, but it was no use.
All that had transpired the previous night came flooding back in a rush, and Marinette found herself holding back a little squeal again.
Her eyes widened. The soulmark!
Scrambling to roll up her right sleeve (how did she not see it while she was changing?), her fingers scraped the cloth up, and she was rewarded with the sight of silver and green, the mercury blade flecked with tiny paw prints exactly where she remembered.
A breath whooshed out of her lungs.
Last night had felt like a fever dream, but seeing that mark on her skin, she knew then it had been real. She had a soulmate. It was real.
Trying to suppress the smile that threatened to stretch across her face, she finally, giddily, reached down to the trapdoor, ready to face her parents. Ready to face school.
Ready to face the world, knowing she had a partner of her own, watching her back.
She covered up the mark and her too-giddy-for-morning smile.
Maybe she couldn't tell anyone except her parents. Maybe she couldn't meet her soulmate behind the mask. But for now…
For now, this was enough.
Despite Marinette's hopes, Chat Noir, sadly, had not been faring just as well as she and Tikki had.
Adrien groaned for the umpteenth time, as his nostrils were assaulted once more by the utterly odious smell of camembert.
Which, unfortunately, was the only type of cheese his kwami would deign to eat.
"Plagg, c'mon, you can't just sit there and eat the whole day," he said, frustration leaking into his tone. "I've got to go to school."
" School? " Plagg zipped up to him, swallowing a mouthful of cheese. "Seriously, kid, I don't get what the big deal is about school. "
Plagg wrinkled his tiny nose, then proceeded to toss another chunk of cheese in his mouth.
Adrien dragged a hand over his face, and prepared himself to explain. Again. "As I've already said, Plagg, I want to meet other people. I don't want to live out my entire life here, in this lonely house."
Plagg raised an eyebrow, but he didn't budge. "Honestly, kid, I'd personally be content as long as I had some good cheese with me. You humans are weird."
"Come on, Plagg. Please?"
A rap at the door startled Adrien. Whirling around, he sighed in relief when he saw that the door remained closed.
Nathalie's muffled, stern voice came through from the other side. "Adrien. You're going to be late."
"Sorry, Nathalie," he called out, shooting Plagg a quick glare before he scooped the kwami up and dropped him in his messenger bag.
As he turned to go, he heard Plagg groaning grouchily in his bag, and felt a twinge of pity. Before he could regret what he was doing, he snatched up the rest of the half-eaten wheel of cheese and dropped it unceremoniously into the opening of his bag—and straight into Plagg's welcome paws.
You're welcome, he thought, as the sounds of munching made its way out of his bag. Adrien reached down to close the flap of the bag, and just like that, the noise died down.
Finally. He could get to school.
Racing down the hallway in a manner he knew his father would disapprove of, he skidded to a halt just as he reached the dining room entryway. Dashing over to his seat, he shot Nathalie a quick good morning smile, then dove into his breakfast, as she droned on about his schedule for the day.
"...then after school, you have an hour long photoshoot at the Place des Vosges with Vincent. Once you've finished that, you'll be free for the rest of the day, to do homework and whatever else you want to do."
Adrien perked up at the mention of free time. Now that was something to look forward to. Maybe he could visit Marinette again!
Trying to suppress a blush in front of Nathalie, he took a gulp of water and bent down to collect his bag, hoping against hope that she hadn't notice his reddened cheeks. He felt his hidden soulmark pulse—or... maybe it was just his imagination.
Standing up, he slung his bag across his body. "Thanks, Nathalie!"
"You're welcome, Adrien," she replied, the corner of her lips lifting into a tiny, one-sided smile.
Adrien smiled back at her. And then he sprinted out of the room, intent on making his way to the car. "Bye!" he called out.
Nathalie raised a hand and gave a small wave of farewell to his afterimage.
Meanwhile, Marinette was running to school with a croissant stuffed in her mouth, chewing frantically as she ducked and swerved around other pedestrians.
"Sorry! Pardon me, so sorry, excuse me please! Ack, I'm so sorry!"
Grumbles and mutters rose in her frazzled wake. Despite her attempts to weave in and out of the crowd seamlessly, her two left feet had failed her, and she'd accidentally shoved some people aside in her harried state.
It didn't take long for her to reach the front gates of the school. Panting, she dashed up the steps to meet Alya.
"Girl, that was close," Alya said, by way of greeting. "A few more minutes and you would've been late!"
She laughed nervously. "I slept too late last night, I think. I almost slept through my alarm!"
Oh, she had definitely slept late last night, thanks to a certain cat's visit.
Shaking away the thought, she focused on Alya once more.
"...hoping to maybe interview Ladybug and Chat Noir one day! For the Ladyblog!" Alya said excitedly. "Do you think I'd be able to do that?"
Marinette tried to smile, pretending she'd been paying attention. "I'm sure you can, Alya!"
Alya beamed. "Thanks, girl. Oh, hey, we've got to get going..."
Locking elbows with Marinette, Alya chattered on as they made their way to class. Marinette listened politely, nodding every now and then, but her thoughts were elsewhere—"elsewhere" being Chat Noir, and the hidden soulmark seared into her flesh.
A thrill sang in her veins at the reminder. She had a soulmate, she had a soulmate. Suppressing a giddy smile, she entered the room with Alya by her side, and her gaze clashed with one Adrien Agreste. Or rather, her new friend, who sat next to Nino.
"Hey Adrien, Nino!" she cheerily called, as the pair made their way to their desks. Alya waved.
"Hey, my dudettes," Nino replied, tipping his hat towards them.
From the corner of her vision, Marinette saw Alya smile at the gesture.
"Hey Alya. Hi Marinette!" Adrien chirped, his smile as bright and sunny as his hair.
Making her way to her seat, Marinette smiled in response, failing to notice Adrien’s rising blush.
Class soon began, but Marinette couldn’t focus. Her thoughts were filled with one golden-haired cat boy, who vaulted around Paris in a black leather suit. She couldn’t stop wondering about him. Where was he? What was he doing? Most importantly, was he thinking about her? Marinette began doodling in her notebook. Swirls of lead morphed into a familiar face, and she found herself looking at the boy of her dreams. She smiled indulgently, lost in the beauty of Chat Noir.
Meanwhile, Adrien couldn’t stop bouncing in his seat. Mrs. Bustier’s lecture was nothing special, especially since Nathalie had drilled him on these exact concepts more than a few months ago. He couldn’t stop thinking about Marinette. Remembering how she had pulled him close yesterday after he had trailed off, thinking about his parents, and how supportive her own parents were… Adrien couldn’t help but hide a lovesick smile at the memory.
All she had to do was simply smile at him, and there he was, falling deeply in love with her all over again. Her smile was so beautiful. Adrien wished he could make her smile like that again.
It had become painfully aware to him that Marinette sat directly behind him, which meant that it was nearly impossible to stare longingly at her during class. Adrien craned his neck, desperately trying to make out what she was doing.
Marinette seemed to be… doodling? In his haste to stare at his soulmate, he missed the weird looks he was getting from Nino.
Nino clapped him on the shoulder. “Dude, what’s going on? You look like - like some sort of flamingo, trying to turn around and sneak a look at Marinette. What’s up with her?”
Adrien jumped and instinctually rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Uh, n-nothing. Nothing’s up. I’m fine.”
Nino raised an eyebrow at him. “If you say so, dude. Try to focus on the lesson though, wouldn’t want you to fail.”
“Thanks, Nino.” He smiled.
Behind them, a certain reporter had been watching their entire exchange surreptitiously. Alya turned to Marinette and started whispering.
“Psst, Marinette. Did you hear the boys talking in front of us? Marinette!”
The girl in question glared at her. “Alya! Mrs. Bustier is going to hear us; keep it down! Write it on a note or something.”
Ripping some paper out of her notebook, Alya scribbled furiously and handed it over to Marinette.
I think Nino and Adrien were whispering about you.
What about me? Marinette wrote.
Adrien keeps trying to look back at you. Nino called him a flamingo.
Marinette snorted. Why would he even do that?
Maybe he’s got the hots for you. Alya raised her eyebrows suggestively as she pushed the paper over to Marinette. Seems obvious to me since he keeps blushing like a fire truck.
Alya!! Adrien doesn’t like me. Besides… he’s not my soulmate.
Do you have another soulmate?
Marinette took the note and crumpled it up. “Later. Come over after school for a bit, and we’ll talk.”
Alya nodded happily. Meanwhile, Adrien had noticed that something was going on behind him. He turned around just as Marinette crumpled up some paper in her fist and whispered something to Alya.
When Alya looked up, she shot a knowing look towards Adrien and smirked. Flushing with embarrassment, he smiled awkwardly, knowing he'd been caught. Adrien turned back around and rubbed his burning neck.
What were the two of them talking about? Had they been talking about him? Was he being too obvious? Maybe he’d ask Marinette later.
The rest of the day flew by after that first class, and soon Alya and Marinette were walking away, having said their goodbyes to Nino. Adrien was hiding around the corner, waiting for the pair of friends to leave. He didn’t plan on following them—at least, not yet—but he just wanted to see where they were going. Besides, he had planned to meet Marinette later as Chat Noir, and didn’t want to drop in on the two girls hanging out.
Heading back towards the front of the school, Adrien watched as the girls ran towards Marinette’s house, smiling and talking.
So Alya was heading to Marinette’s? Interesting. He hoped she’d end up leaving by the time a certain superhero paid Marinette a visit.
Pushing all thoughts and dreams of one sweet, raven-haired girl out of his mind, Adrien took a deep breath and started for the car. He had a fencing class to prepare for.
Marinette shook her head violently. “No. No. Just no. There’s no way Adrien likes me. He’s known me for what? A day now? And the first day I hated his guts for something he didn’t even do! Adrien probably thinks I’m just a stubborn fangirl or something.”
Alya scoffed. “Then why was he staring at you all class? He was barely even paying attention to the lecture.”
Marinette flailed for an excuse. “Maybe… maybe he was bored. I know I was. Besides, he was homeschooled, right? He’s probably already learned these topics.”
Alya tilted her head, considering it. But only a little. “Maybe. But girl, you still can’t excuse how he was craning his neck just trying to get a peek at what you were doing! Not to mention how badly he blushed when I stared at him afterwards.”
“Probably just curious. Just like you.” Marinette laughed.
The reporter narrowed her eyes slightly. “What were you doing?”
Uh oh.
"N— nothing," Marinette stammered, feeling her cheeks go pink. "I was just t— taking notes. Need to keep my grades up!”
Alya raised an eyebrow. "Right."
Marinette could tell Alya didn't believe her, but thankfully, she didn't push for more. Instead, Alya continued talking.
“Well, I’m telling you, that boy’s got the hots for you. Who wouldn’t?" Alya grinned. "You’re pretty adorable, girl!”
Marinette looked away, feeling heat flood her cheeks. “Th— thanks, Alya.”
Alya laughed. And then her face grew serious.
“Now…" Marinette gulped as Alya smiled viciously. "Let’s talk about soulmates.”
She felt her dread increase as Alya dragged her up to her room mercilessly.
Once Alya had successfully pulled her into the room, she sat Marinette down on the chaise, then proceeded to drag a chair over to sit in front of her.
Fixing her steely gaze on Marinette, Alya began the interrogation.
“So. Who’s your soulmate?”
Marinette scrabbled for a distraction, then suddenly remembered… Nino.
“How about we talk about yours first, huh?" Marinette smirked when she saw Alya's face go slack. She forged on, feeling more confident. "I saw you smiling at Nino today. Does someone have the hots for our DJ friend?” she sing-songed.
Alya flushed slightly, then rushed to cover it up with a wavering smile. “M, you know I don’t have a soulmate yet. My birthday isn’t until later. And no, I don’t like Nino! You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alya huffed, crossing her arms indignantly.
Marinette raised an eyebrow, still grinning. “Is that so? Because I saw him staring at you during lunch today. There was even a hint of a blush on his cheeks. Does that mean anything to you?” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Alya biting back a smile, then throwing herself into a violent coughing fit.
“I saw no such thing. N-now you’re just making things up.”
“If you say so.” But they both knew Marinette had won this round. Marinette smiled triumphantly.
Alya took advantage of the short second of silence, immediately switching the topic away from her. “Now, how about we talk about your soulmate, huh, Marinette?”
Marinette's heart dropped into her stomach. Marinette twiddled her thumbs nervously, looking anywhere but at Alya. “Uh, I really don’t want to talk about it… because, um... reasons.”
Now it was Alya's turn to raise an eyebrow, her tone of voice challenging her flimsy excuse. “Really, girl? ‘Because reasons’? That’s the best you got?"
Alya rambled on, a flood of questions spilling out of her as she subconsciously reverted to her comfortable journalist persona. "Why are you so nervous about the entire soulmates thing? Is it someone you don’t like? Do they not like you? Are you guys keeping your relationship a secret—”
Upon hearing the last question, Marinette yelped, hands waving Alya's queries away. “No! That’s not it, okay? The truth is…"
Marinette swallowed. They never said lying was easy. But did it have to be so hard?
She surged forwards anyways, the lies coming to her with an ease that scared a small part of her.
"The truth is, I don’t have one. I was so, so excited, and anxious, and worried on my birthday, because all I’ve ever wanted is a soulmate. I want with someone the beautiful relationship my parents have. They’re so in love, and I wished upon every star in the sky that I would have a relationship like that someday. But instead, I ended up with no one.”
Marinette looked at her lap, presumably from sadness. In reality she was attempting to swallow the guilt she felt from lying to Alya.
The girl in question put a hand to her mouth and gasped in horror. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Marinette. I feel so bad for you. God , you deserve so much better."
Alya sighed, slumping into the chair. "I feel so bad for just bringing it up like that. If you feel uncomfortable, I promise I’ll never talk about it again. I’m so sorry, I’m sure you’ll find someone who loves you. With or without a soulmate, okay? Come here.” She pulled Marinette into a tight hug, rubbing her back soothingly.
Marinette stiffened slightly, but eased into the hug. The guilt threatened to consume her. Alya was being so compassionate and kind and understanding. And here she was. Lying to her. It felt horrible. She felt horrible.
“T-thank you,” she managed to say, swallowing. Her throat felt all dried up.
Alya broke away from her, studying her face worriedly. Marinette hoped she didn't see the guilt written on it. "Do you want some space, girl? I know this can be hard."
Marinette opened her mouth to protest— then realized that this could be a way to get Alya out of the house before Chat Noir dropped by.
And so she nodded silently, as if she really didn't have a soulmate. As if her soulmate wasn't on his way here already.
Alya smiled, turning to leave. “Feel better, okay? Love you, girl.”
“Love you too, Alya.” She waved half-heartedly as Alya finally left the room, and sank into her chaise.
Desolate thoughts flooded into her mind and then she was drowning, drowning in her guilt and misery. How could she have done that to Alya? Alya had been nothing but sweet to her and had even helped her stand up to Chloe.
Absentmindedly, Marinette limped up to her loft bed and opened the hatch to her balcony. Perhaps a certain cat would show up soon. She really wished she didn’t have to keep her relationship with him such a secret. Marinette hated lying, especially to those she loved. But she supposed it was a part of being a superhero, of leading a double life. After all, wasn’t she lying to Chat Noir about her own identity? Chat didn’t know his soulmate was actually Ladybug, his loyal partner.
Not only was she lying to her friends and family about her soulmate, but also about being a superhero. Wasn’t she breaking their hard-earned trust making terrible excuses to go gallivanting about saving Paris from a bunch of enraged villains?
Marinette knew her identity had to be kept a secret, and so did Chat’s, but it didn’t stop her from wishing that the masks weren’t necessary. That instead, her friends would know and tease her about her relationship with Chat Noir. Instead, they would know she was Ladybug, and understand why she had to make all those excuses. Maybe her family would be proud of her for helping so many people. Maybe they’d be scared as they watched the live footage on the news, hoping she didn’t get hurt.
Then perhaps, Ladybug and Chat Noir could be in a relationship, and the world would know they were happy soulmates. She’d look out for him in battle, and he would do the same for her. And maybe, they’d be there for each other as civilians too. Marinette and… whoever Chat Noir was, though she felt she somehow secretly already knew him.
Maybe it was the partnership, maybe it was the fact that they were soulmates, but she felt closer to her kitty than anyone else.