Chapter Text
Sweat dripped down Marinette’s neck, finding itself in a puddle in the small of her back. She sighed, running her hand against her head, shifting her bangs to the side of her face. She stared at the clock.
4:54.
Jesus. She thought, rolling over and throwing the pillow over the head. Go to sleep.
“Marinette,” Tikki said, just as restless. “I don’t see what the big deal is!”
Marinette shot up, pointing a finger at Tikki. “You knew! This whole time you knew what an absolute clusterfuck all of this was and you continued to let us both make fools of ourselves!”
Tikki laughed, floating up to sit on Marinette’s bedframe. “Trust me, I’ve seen worse in my years.”
Marinette stared blankly into the wall before her. “Adrien is Chat. Chat is Adrien.”
Tikki looked at her blankly. “Yes, we have been over this.”
“Some of us,” Marinette cried, throwing her hands up into the air. “Haven’t been sitting on this precious piece of information for four years.” Marinette narrowed her eyes at Tikki. “I really do not like you right now.”
Tikki laughed. “It’ll pass.”
Marinette sighed, knowing she wasn’t truly mad at Tikki. She was just doing her job of being an omnipotent God or whatever she was.
“Again, I don’t really understand the problem.” Tikki landed on top of Marinette’s head and she swatted her off.
“You were the one who said we weren’t allowed to reveal our identities.” Marinette was currently replaying every interaction she had ever had with Chat Noir over in her head, hitting herself for not realizing more clues sooner than she did.
“I said that four years ago, Mari.” Tikki pointed at her. “You are the only one who knows. You don’t have to tell Adrien, yet.”
“Yet.” The word tasted sour on her mouth. She didn’t like keeping secrets from neither of the boys… well, the boy now. But she also didn’t want the dynamic of Ladybug and Chat Noir to change drastically either. It would already be altered now that she knew his secret.
“He’s coming over here soon, you know. And you haven’t slept at all.”
Marinette narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth at the Kwami. “I. Know.”
God, she thought. Why the hell is this so complicated.
She voiced her thoughts aloud.
“Marinette, it’s really not.” Tikki made a tsk sound with her lips. “You liked both versions of him and he liked both version of you. And in the end, he chose Marinette, not Ladybug. Isn’t that what you’re always saying?” Tikki made her voice deeper to mimic Marinette. “’I will never be Ladybug. I want someone to love me for me.’ Well here he is!”
Marinette sighed. Tikki was right. Adrien had chosen Marinette over Ladybug, not even knowing they were one and the same.
“I’m not sleeping tonight.” Marinette sighed, feeling the bags in her eyes growing darker.
“Just promise me you’ll say yes tomorrow.” Tikki yawned, burrowing into the blankets next to Marinette.
Marinette opened one of her eyes, a small grin forming. “Tikki, I’m not stupid.”
“Marinette!” Her mother’s voice sang from the room downstairs. Marinette opened her eyes groggily and twisted her head to read the time.
11:25.
“Ugh.” She groaned, throwing her body in the opposite direction across the bed. She had gone to sleep at around 7 am and left like she was being hit by a truck. She buried her head into her pillow.
“Marinette, get down here!” Her mother’s voice was growing sterner.
Marinette sighed and released a measly, “No.” Before giving in and flinging herself off her bed.
She didn’t bother throwing on real clothes, knowing her parents were probably just needing an extra hand in the kitchen. She looked down at herself, her pink cami and purple shorts. She realized she was holding onto a stuffed animal she slept with. Too lazy to put it down, she carried it down the stairs with her.
Her hair kept getting in her face, spewing all over the place on top of her head. She probably should have put a comb through it.
“Mamman,” Marinette began, yawning and closing her eyes. “I know I said I could bake in my sleep, but I didn’t actually mean it.”
“Hey, Marinette.”
Marinette’s eyes flung open at the sound of the all too familiar voice. Adrien Chat Noir Agreste was sitting in the bakery, dressed to the 9s while she was standing in front of him looking like she had just been awoken from a coma.
She dropped the stuffed animal on the floor.
“Adrien, Ohmygod.” Marinette was stumbling over her words. “I didn’t expect you to be here so soon.”
“Oh!” He said, backing away with a look of guilt in his eyes. “I can totally come back later if you…”
“No, no.” Marinette’s mother cut in. “It’s plenty late and she needed to get up anyway. Adrien is welcome to stay here while you get ready.”
Marinette huffed. “Argh. Just come up with me.” She dropped her head, scooping to pick up the teddy bear and padded towards her room.
When Adrien had finished climbing the ladder, Marinette noticed his hands were positioned firmly behind his back.
Oh fuck. She thought. He’s about to confess and you look like this.
“Marinette,” Adrien said, walking sideways to sit down. “I can totally come back later. I didn’t realize you would still be asleep.”
“No!” She cried, then stepped back. God, she was doing so much. “I wanted you to come. It was just my mom. She can be a bit pushy.”
Adrien laughed and folded his hands behind his head, leaning back in his seat. “Well, I quite like her.”
Wow. Marinette thought. He is so Chat. How did I not see it sooner?
Marinette tried to refocus her mind on what was at hand. Adrien was about to confess to her. Confess that he loved her. And she was going to tell him she loved him too. They were going to be together.
“I’m sorry I look like this,” She said, gesturing to her attire.
Adrien smiled. “I think you look beautiful.”
Marinette felt her cheeks get red. God, he was perfect.
It all made sense now. He was everything she could possibly want. Adrien and Chat. The same person. The gentleman who never failed to make her swoon and the hilarious and heroic boy she had spent her last four years with. Everything fit.
“You’re a very convincing liar.” She shuffled her feet, somehow nervous now.
Adrien stood up, coming closer to her. “I’m not lying, Marinette. You take my breath away no matter what.” Marinette could do nothing but stare at him. He was so close now. He stopped, raising his hand to her cheek. “You always do.”
“Oh,” It was the only word she could process. All she wanted to do was kiss him. She leaned on her tip-toes, laying her hands against his chest and pulling closer to him.
He pulled back.
“Marinette, wait.” Adrien turned around and went back to where he was sitting. Marinette felt her face drop. Maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe he no longer felt what he had told her last night.
Adrien turned around with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
Oh. Marinette couldn’t repress the smile.
“I’ve been such an idiot. And so blind. So fucking blind.” He took her hand with his free one. “It has always been you, Marinette. From the first time I saw you and gave you that umbrella. When I took you to the palace. Hell, I cheated to get you to win the stupid contest in the first place. I never thought about why I wanted it to be you so badly. But I did. Because some deeper part of me knew that it was you. You were the girl I was in love with. And I know I fucked up and I know I’m a stupid idiot. But I realized. I opened my eyes and you were there. And when I closed them, you were there again. I…”
He was going to keep going. Marinette could see he would keep going forever if he could. Her eyes were welling up with tears and Adrien had this stupid grin plastered across his face. She could see the tears in his eyes welling up as well.
“Stop,” She laughed in between tears. “Stop talking, you beautiful idiot.”
Before he could say anything more, she pressed herself against him and collided into his lips. She heard the flowers fall to the ground as his hands went to her waist. It was the most passionate kiss the two had shared. Her hands held tight to his neck while she tried to find all the lost time they had missed in his lips.
This was for Dark Cupid.
This was for every time she had pushed her partner away.
This was for every time she had made him feel like she could never love him.
This was for them.
Finally, Adrien pulled away, gasping for breath. “I love you, Marinette.”
Marinette laughed through her tears as she wiped his away. “I love you, too.” She held him close to her, her head resting on his chest. “Every part of you,” She whispered.
Adrien held her face in his hands, smiling like a fool. “Does this mean we’re going out?”
Marinette buried herself in his hands. “We’ve been going out, you dork.”
“I’m your dork.”
Marinette pulled him down to the ground, teasing. “Unfortunately.”
They spent the next hour cuddled together on ground of Marinette’s room, discussing all the hints one had thrown and the other had missed. Marinette felt immense peace being in his arms. It wasn’t a lie. He had chosen her. Twice. He had chosen her twice.
She wanted to confess right now, tell him that she was Ladybug. She knew he would be elated. But she also remembered the warning Tikki had given her.
So, she waited. And she could. Because right now, nothing else mattered except the two of them.
Then, her phone buzzed.
“Oh,” She sighed. “It’s Alya.”
Adrien stole the phone from her. “Ignore it!”
“Adrien!” She said, climbing all over him to get the device.
“Salut!” He sang into the phone. Marinette, sighed, giving up on her boyfriend (he was actually her boyfriend now) and leaned back on her hands to listen to the conversation.
“Oh…What the fuck…Now?... Okay, I’ll tell her…” Adrien’s mood had drastically shifted. He looked angry.
“Adrien? What’s wrong?”
“…Something always in the damn way.” He mumbled after he hung up the phone with Alya.
“What are you talking about?” Marinette leaned forward, upset that he was so upset. “Did Alya say something to you?”
“No, no.” He stood up, clearly trying to think of something. “There’s an Akuma.”
Oh.
Marinette watched while he tried to come up with a convincing lie.
“I have to go,” He was saying, pacing around the room. “It has something to do my family.”
Not very convincing, Marinette thought. But with more practice, he could get there. Although I do see we’re stealing excuses.
“Okay,” Marinette said, trying to sound concerned but also not make him stay any longer than he had to. She needed to leave soon too.
“I really, really don’t want to leave.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and then each cheek.
“Go on,” Marinette said, smiling. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you,” He said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. Then he was running out the door. Before he left, he turned around and yelled over his shoulder. “Don’t forget it!”
“I won’t! Don’t worry!”
He was gone instantly. Marinette fell against her wall, holding her flowers up to her chest.
“Oh, Tikki.” She sighed. “Isn’t he perfect. And just think, I won’t even have to wait and see him.”
“Marinette!” Tikki yelled, diving out of her purse. “Now is not the time!”
Marinette sighed, knowing her Kwami was right.
“Tikki, spots on!”
Adrien was going to kill Hawkmoth. Just when he was finally content, happy with Marinette and things in his life were finally going smoothly, he had to leave.
He thought back to his parting conversation with her, hoping he hadn’t sounded too harsh or like he wanted to leave.
God. That was the last thing Adrien had wanted to do. He felt at home with Marinette. Her laughter filled a gaping hole inside his body and her smile made him feel as if there was not another care in the world.
Clearly, there was.
“Bonjour, Chaton.” Adrien heard Ladybug before he saw her, spinning around to meet her.
“Bonjour, Milady.” Adrien paused, wondering if he could still call her those things. He knew how he felt. He loved Marinette. But he also wondered how she would feel if she could hear him now.
Ladybug smiled, inching closer to him. Adrien took a step back.
“So, what are we dealing with?” Ladybug surveyed the premises, looking for any signs of what Alya had reported.
“Hard to say,” Chat took his staff and held it up as a looking glass. “But I believe the answer can be found in that direction.” He pointed his claws towards the village to the north.
“Well then,” Ladybug said, getting into jumping stance. “Let’s do this.”
And then…she winked.
Adrien furrowed his brows, very confused. Was she flirting with him?
Ladybug just let out a laugh and then mumbled something that sounded like Idiot. Then, she took off.
Chat stood frozen for a few seconds, unsure of what anything that had just conspired meant. Then, he jumped.
He landed feet first in front of a giant woman wielding a weapon of enormous size. Ladybug was too his right, feet placed in fighting position.
“On the count of three,” She whispered under her breath. “Go get Carapace. I’ll find Rena.”
Chat discreetly nodded. He understood exactly. This Akuma was much too powerful to fight with the two solely. She slid a miraculous in his hand.
Ladybug whispered her countdown. When the word three slid out of her mouth both split in opposite directions, dodging blasts that reigned down from the sky. Chat flipped backwards, landing on a car and then shot up into the air.
He knew exactly where Nino would be, although he didn’t envy Ladybug in her search for Alya.
Chat landed feet first on the balcony of Nino’s room.
Nino, caught off guard, fell backwards.
“Hey, Hero.” He greeted Chat, scrambling to his knees.
“Might I interest you in a certain turtle?” Chat couldn’t help but play with is best friend.
“Oh!” Nino was on his feet now. “Of course!”
“Excellent.”
Adrien waited for Nino to transform and then they both landed on the ground below his house, rushing for the scene of the attack.
“WHO TOOK HIM?” The Akumatized victim was screaming, sending blasts into the crowd of fleeing civilians. “WHO KILLED HIM?”
“Oh, a widow.” Nino breathed the words. They both understood that Akuma victims with tragic pasts were much harder to defeat than those with trivial grievances.
“Madame!” Chat yelled towards the Akuma, hoping to be enough of a distraction until Ladybug could arrive.
“YOU KILLED HIM.” The Akuma yelled down at Chat, covering him in spit.
“Argh,” He cried, throwing the spit off him. “Madame, we might be of service.”
“ONLY IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR MIRACULOUS.”
“Hah!” Chat cried while he leaped backwards, dodging another blast.
“Good luck with that one!” Chat heard Ladybug cry, then came the sound of two pairs of feet crushing against the pavement.
Chat turned to see Rena and Ladybug in fighting formation behind him. He watched as Rena lifted her flute and began to form an illusion.
Chat turned as he saw the ground below him disappear. He jumped for a second, but realized it was only a trick. The Akuma, however, was not as clever. She cried and jumped around, trying to escape the crumbling ground beneath them.
“Chaton, now!” He heard Ladybug’s cry and sprang into action. He kicked himself off a wall and pounded into the Akuma, knocking her on her side. Her arms were stretched out on the pavement and she was firing blasts aimlessly.
“Grab her necklace!”
Chat looked around the Akuma, trying to find a necklace. Finally, his eyes landed on the prize.
He saw Ladybug, jumping around in the background, dodging each other the Akuma’s blows.
He reached of the necklace, trying to take it and not get crushed beneath the woman.
He heard her release a final blast.
A scream.
He broke the necklace.
“Ladybug!” He heard Rena scream and the illusion instantly vanished.
Chat turned around fiercely, his eyes going straight for his partner. She was on the ground, covered in fresh blood.
A guttural scream escaped his lips. He scorched the pavement, running to Ladybug.
“She got hit!” Rena’s voice was soft, almost weeping.
“Ladybug!” Chat cried, pulling her limp body off the ground. “Ladybug, wake up!” She shook her with all his strength but her eyes simply rolled to the back of her head.
“She’s unconscious!” Chat almost seethed at Rena, enraged that she was wasting valuable time stating such obvious facts.
“She’s losing too much blood,” Chat stated, numb all over. “She’s going to de-transform.” He didn’t realize he was screaming his words until his throat felt itchy. Tears were cascading how his face, blurring his vision. He desperately wiped them clear.
“I’ll put up an illusion. Stay with her.” Rena disappeared and a wall of smoke came between them. “I can’t hear or see you. But hurry, I’m going to de-transform soon.”
Her words fell on deaf ears. All Chat could see was his Lady, dying in front of him.
“Ladybug,” He sobbed. “Please open your eyes.”
He pulled her limp body close to him and sobbed into her.
Suddenly, pink light erupted from beneath him.
She was de-transformed. Chat kept his eyes closed, knowing Ladybug wouldn’t want him to know who she was. But this was his chance to save her. He didn’t have a choice.
“Ladybug, please,” He sobbed, opening his eyes. He saw her legs, covered in burns. “Wake up!”
He moved his eyes to her body and saw she was not bleeding as much as he had thought.
“Ladybug, please.” He continued to sob.
Then he saw her face.
Every version of panic, fear, and grieving washed over him.
“Marinette!” He screamed, pounding his fists against the ground. He screamed her name over and over, holding her face in his hands. It was the most guttural sound he had ever created. He sobbed. Marinette was Ladybug. The only two people he had ever loved were the same person. Marinette was Ladybug.
Marinette was dying.
He screamed.
Again.
And again.
He screamed until he felt…
Nothing.