Chapter Text
The Akuma who was about to reach Chat Noir touches the yo-yo Ladybug carries to her side, turning it purple. The purple silhouette of the butterfly appears around the face of the girl and that of Hawkmoth and Ladybug, again, hears Hawkmoth's voice in her head “Oh, what a lucky coincidence! You are MINE now, Ladybug. Now you will hand me your Miraculous and I will free you from this burden ”, observing, paralyzed by terror, the man surrounded by the enormous wings who, slowly, is approaching.
Ladybug tries to resist that voice, “mmmh… this… time… don't… let.. you.. do it…. Hawkmoth” manages to say, but finds herself thinking - how can I hope to resist… I can't. I'm… I'm too scared… - then she notices Chat Noir's embrace, who is reciprocating her squeeze and whispers “Hold on, my love. It's you and me against the world, remember? Here I am. Hold on! We are all here". Sobs rise to Ladybug's throat as she tries to hear only the boy's voice. Out of the corner of her eye she sees that Carapace approaches her and feels that he too is hugging her "Come on LB, don't let him win" he whispers, then other arms surround her too: Ryuko, with red cheeks from embarrassment, is hugging her and Chat Noir, but desperation is taking over Ladybug's mind - my friends… forgive me. I can’t resist. I don't… I… I can’t.. - she thinks, as she is about to abandon herself to Hawkmoth's will. His voice in her mind continues “Come on, little girl, you can't resist any longer… Give me the miraculous and it will end”.
Then Ladybug also hear something else. Alya's voice shouting “Come on, people! Ladybug needs us! La-dy-bug! La-dy-bug! La-dy-bug! “, Then some applause, many.
With difficulty she raises her head and sees Hawkmoth change expression, passing from triumph to surprise: guided by Alya's unmistakable red hair, dozens of people are approaching them. Firefighters, policemen, ordinary citizens, at least fifty people, all are chanting a name: “La-dy-bug! La-dy-bug! La-dy-bug! " she looks down at Chat Noir's face who, in tears, holding her in an embrace, continues to whisper “I love you, Mylady, hold on… I'm here. We are here… all of Paris is supporting you. Be strong!".
The people they reach begin to divide, some gather around Hawkmoth, who looks around, worried. "Damn," he says, gritting his teeth.
Ladybug can no longer restrain herself and bursts into tears, clutching Chat Noir even tighter, - all these people, all the Parisians we have helped and until now had been watching, they are encouraging and protecting me, they are here for me - she thinks and finally, between sobs, she manages to say “You can ... forget it, Hawkmoth. I will not let myself be used again ”.
Under the incredulous eyes of the Holders and the Parisians who are now compact between them and Hawkmoth, protecting them with a human shield, the Akuma comes out of the yo-yo and begins to rise above the group. Ladybug feels Hawkmoth's grip disappear and, still crying, captures the Akuma.
Immediately after the girl purifies the Akuma and makes it fly away, white again.
From the small crowd gathered in the square comes a "Hurray!" as the heroes embrace Ladybug again, who does not have the strength to wriggle out, the embrace prevents her from seeing beyond the small crowd and only manages to say "Hawkmoth". When they turn towards the Tower, under which he was, they no longer see him, instead seeing some people who get up cursing, thrown to the ground by a gust of wind from Hawkmoth's wings.
Ladybug sighs, still pale, gives Chat Noir, whose Miraculous beeps a soft look, then "Help me, Kitty, I can't do it alone" she asks, getting help to throw the Lucky Charm into the air "Miraculous Ladybug!" she exclaims, breathless again.
The whirlwind of magical ladybugs swirls around them and Ladybug finally returns to breathe normally as Nathalie lifts herself up on one elbow, rubbing her temples with her other hand.
Chat Noir can't stop smiling, while the other heroes and Alya, who has sneaked up to them, get their fists touched with a "Pound it!" of satisfaction.
At least fifty people gathered around them, from which came several shouts "Well done!", "You were great", "Come on, little Ladybug!", while a few hands reach out to touch the heroes, who were forced to make their way .
Ladybug wipes her tears with the back of her hand, then looks at Nathalie, still on the ground “Carapace, Ryuko, help Na… er that woman, we're about to transform again! Thanks, guys, ”she says, twirling the yo yo, followed by Chat Noir retrieving the stick, magically repaired.. “And thanks to you all! I couldn't have done it without your support.” Ladybug says goodbye, addressing the crowd of people around them. She winks at Alya and immediately afterwards she and Chat Noir are flying towards the rooftops, accompanied by the applause of the people.
The miraculous of Chat Noir makes a sound, the last portion of the footprint flashes, like the penultimate dot on Ladybug's earrings. The two have now moved away from the Eiffel Tower and Chat Noir pauses for a moment on the roof of a building a little higher than the surrounding ones, but when he is about to leave, he feels the tail of the costume grab "Stop, Kitty, wait a sec" . He turns to Ladybug "Mylady, I'm about to transform, the secret identity .." he protests, but Ladybug looks at him with a smile that could have melted the perennial ice. "I know. My transformation will fall soon, too. But .. " she says, little more than a whisper, approaching the boy "after what happened to us, after what we said…. " The girl's cheeks are the color of her mask "It would be the perfect time for a kiss, Adrien."
Chat Noir opens his green eyes wide, but he's not surprised. He swallows empty "But ..." he begins, while the miraculous starts playing more and more insistently "Oh, hell, nobody can see us here" he mutters, then says "I was afraid you wouldn't ask me again, Marinette", getting lost in the eyes of the girl in front of him.
Chat Noir takes Ladybug's hand, intertwining her fingers with hers, reaches out to the other and draws the girl to him, holding her by the waist.
Ladybug stands on tiptoe, squinting as a green flash surrounds the boy hugging her and whispers "Tikki, spots off" just before their lips touch.
The kiss is not like the previous one, which was forced. They both want this.
For Marinette it is a bit like receiving another electric shock, very different from the previous one. And judging by the squeeze he gives on her hand, it must be the same for Adrien too.
Almost simultaneously, both bring their free arm behind the back of the other's neck, Marinette leans against Adrien to keep from falling, then their parted lips part. They both burst out laughing each as if hypnotized by the other's laughter.
"Hey, Bugaboo ..." Adrien whispers, letting go of Marinette's hand and squeezing her in a hug "I told you not to call me Bugaboo, Kitty" she replies, teasing him, but he continues "I know we have another secret to keep , the two of us". Marinette looks at him, then rests her head between his neck and shoulder “It doesn't matter. It's you and me, against the world, right? ”. "Right," agrees Adrien, kissing her hair "I had to figure it out first," he says softly. The girl looks up at him "What?" she asks, curious; Adrien immediately replies “your perfume. Yours and Ladybug's. It's the same.". Marinette wrinkles her nose, as she always does when she thinks, and asks "If it wasn't that, what made you realize it was me?".
Adrien puts one hand behind his neck leaving the other behind Marinette's back "Well ... Apart from the fact that you are brave, creative, resourceful, always ready to help others, you say?" he smiles, looking into her eyes again” Ficcanaso gave me certainty. I didn't remember anything, so I did the third degree at Rena Rouge, I couldn't take it anymore. "
Marinette blushes "thank you, Adrien" she whispers, while Adrien continues "Anyway it was the thing with the statue you tried to kiss." he pauses. “But then you told me it was a joke, and I was stupid enough to believe it. Ah and I dreamed of you, you know? Instead you, from… how did you understand? ”.
Marinette reflects, a finger to her lips “For me too was Ficcanaso. You know, Chat Noir is the only boy I secretly see on my balcony after all! " she teases him.
Adrien laughs, then they both widen their eyes, surprised by having reached the same conclusion "You mean" Marinette begins "we have to thank Hawkmoth and Lila" continues Adrien "for ... this?" they end up together. The girl looks at Adrien again for a long moment, then “You know what? Maybe if it weren't for… well, for you, because you were that boy I… I think if I hadn't known you, maybe there would have been… something with Chat Noir."
A sudden noise makes them both go around “Are you done with this fuss? I'm hungry." complains Plagg, flying a few centimeters from their faces "Hello, Pigtails" he adds, looking at Marinette, while Tikki on the opposite side is beaming, tries to say something but can't say anything.
"Pigtails?" Marinette asks, then smiles again “I like it” looking at Adrien “you could call me that, Sunshine. It will be another of our secrets ”.
Adrien smiles back “Sunshine? As you wish, Pigtails, but I prefer Mylady ", he replies" This one only when I'm Ladybug, mon chaton "retorts Marinette, then the two exchange a glance and kiss again, regardless of Plagg's protests, surrounded by Tikki doing somersaults up in the air.
The End (for now....)