Chapter Text
“Hey there, Mini Bug!”
Marinette jumped out of her skin at the unexpected intruder. Putting aside the knitting project she had been working on, Marinette turned hard eyes to the older hero.
“Thanks for finally dropping by.”
Bunnyx winked. “Don’t think I can’t sense that sarcasm, Marinette. I came when I could.”
“It’s been two weeks.”
“Well, what can I say, Mini Bug? It was a choice between the future-you and the present-you. Who do you think is scarier?”
Marinette huffed before grumbling, “I’m going to remember this.”
Bunnyx laughed with an unnecessary amount of enthusiasm before saying with a twinkle in her eyes, “You will hold this over my head for a while. I mean really, Marinette, you need to learn how to let things go.”
Marinette gave her a deadpan look, to which Bunnyx laughed before she took a seat on the floor in front of Marinette. With amusement, Bunnyx said brightly, “Now, how can I help you?”
The irritation that had been bubbling under her skin for weeks grew. “Are you serious?”
“Heh, I have a guess, but I thought I’d ask just to be sure.”
Marinette rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “You’ve been keeping the truth from me. Wouldn’t you say it’s time for me to know what happened?”
Bunnyx seemed to contemplate the question, further frustrating Marinette. Patience was never something she had been good at.
Taping her lip several times, Bunnyx hummed. “You know, I think now is as good a time as ever!”
Marinette felt a wave of relief hit her. She had been expecting to battle for the right to know what happened. She was grateful, Bunnyx conceded quickly.
“Yes, it’s past time.”
Bunnyx winked before she shot herself to a stand and jumped back into her burrow, which disappeared moments later. Marinette stared at where the burrow had been in her room and wondered if she had imagined the entire encounter. The irritation within her boiled into anger. Marinette was close to having a tantrum when the burrow reopened.
“Whoops! I hadn’t meant for it to close. Was I gone long?”
Grumbling, Marinette said, “About five minutes.”
“Yikes! That couldn’t have been fun for you.”
Marinette glared at her, causing Bunnyx to giggle. “Alright, alright. I’m done teasing.”
Sitting back on the ground next to Marinette, a pink small box in her arms, Bunnyx grew serious in both demeanor and tone. “Marinette, I wouldn’t normally do this, but this is something you need to see, and something that will help you and your partnership with Chat Noir blossom into something even more amazing.”
Marinette felt confused, but nodded.
Bunnyx smiled before she placed the pink box on Marinette’s lap. Marinette scrunched her brows in confusion. “What’s this?”
“Open it, and you’ll find out.”
Slowly, Marinette opened the box and found multiple DVDs. Pulling one of the clear cases out, Marinette read the title out loud. “The Adventures of Chat Noir.”
Marinette cocked her head to the side, eyeing both the DVD and the hero beside her. Bunnyx smiled. “That should be season one. I did my best to label them for you. I had to pull them out of the original cases because Chloe would have known they were missing.” Giggling, Bunnyx said under her breath, “I really enjoyed doing that.”
The mirth of the hero was lost on Marinette. She was too confused to understand what was in her hands. “What is this? And what does this have to do with the akuma attack?”
“I think you’re just going to have to watch them. Lucky for you, I managed to get them all before the akuma was defeated. Keeping them in the burrow protected them from the cure’s magic. Otherwise, these wouldn’t exist.”
Marinette felt even more lost than before.
Sighing, Bunnyx turned to Marinette and spoke seriously. “I will give you some context, but the rest is up to you to find out when you watch these.”
Marinette nodded, eager to understand.
“When you were hit, it sent you to a different dimension with no memory of who you were or that you were Ladybug. The akumas magic created a narrative of your life within this dimension, a story where you had Chloe as your step sister and a mother who was more interested in her work than her daughter.”
Marinette’s eyes widened. A world with a mother who was cold, and with Chloe as her stepsister? Marinette shuttered at the thought.
“The way the akuma’s magic worked, it would send its victim to an alternative universe—one completely opposite of this universe. With that said, it sent you to a world where your life differed greatly from here—the complete opposite, in fact. For example, you were an outcast at school and didn’t have any friends. That’s a far cry’s difference from being Class President, don’t you think?”
Marinette was speechless. This sounded terrible!
“Now, here’s the interesting part. Within this world, there was a show called The Adventures of Chat Noir. I personally believe the only reason this show existed in this world was thanks to your miraculous and its need to remain connected with the cat miraculous. The show broadcasted everything that was occurring in this world—though, only from Chat Noir’s perspective.”
Marinette’s head tilted in confusion. “Only from Chat’s perspective?”
Bunnyx winked. “Well, the show is named after him.”
Marinette only nodded, listening as Bunnyx continued.
“You were a big fan of the show. You watched it every time a new episode came out. I think something within you wanted to remember. And I think we can both agree that your feelings for Chat Noir expand beyond the bounds of partnership.”
Bunnyx winked at her again, leaving Marinette floundering for words to counter that last sentence. Bunnyx laughed before continuing. “Well, that’s the gist of it. The rest of the story is on those DVDs. I would recommend watching them in order.”
Marinette nodded, her eyes on the DVD in her hand. She was… excited.
“Thank you, Bunny.”
“Anytime, Mini Bug!”
With those words, Bunnyx stood and was about to jump into her burrow when she paused.
“Oh! Right. Marinette, your identity is no longer a secret.”
The heroine’s words brought Marinette’s world to a halt as a rush of panic clawed at her throat.
“What?!”
Bunnyx let out a nervous laugh. “Listen, you will understand when you watch the show. Just embrace it, Marinette.”
“I can’t embrace it! It’s supposed to be a secret.”
Bunnyx rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, if you don’t want to know Chat’s identity, don’t watch the show.”
Something tightened within her. Unsure how to handle these new revelations—her entire world in conflict—Marinette whispered, “What?”
“Seriously, Marinette, don’t watch it. The show literally reveals his identity in the first episode.”
Marinette felt dread grip her. “So, does that mean everyone knows?!”
“No. Everyone who had been a part of that dimension has forgotten everything. The only one who knows your identity is Chat Noir.”
Marinette sucked in a breath. “Why didn’t he tell me?!”
Bunnyx became serious, her voice stern and unrelenting. “I told him not to.”
Marinette’s voice was panicked. “But, why?!”
Bunnyx spoke in a tone that was sharp and defensive. “That boy already has enough to deal with. I knew if he told you, you would react negatively.” Bunnyx breathed out, her voice softening. “I didn’t think he could handle it. It would have been the rock that made the mountain crumble. Do you understand? Do not blame Chat Noir for this.”
Marinette felt chilled. She knows she can be irrational, and react without logic, but this would have been something worthy of a reaction. Yet, Bunnyx says it’d be enough to break him…? Why?
Marinette looked down at the DVD in her hand, the answer to all her questions… with a cost.
Clapping her hands, Bunnyx jumped to a stand before leaping into her burrow. Poking her head out, Bunnyx smiled at Marinette’s quiet state. “Well, I’m off! That box is a gift. I’m not coming back for it!”
Marinette only nodded, her body still frozen from the bunny hero’s impassioned speech.
“A word of advice, Marinette.”
Marinette focused her gaze on the heroine.
“If your partnership with Chat Noir is something you value, something you want to protect and treasure, then I suggest you watch the show. By remaining ignorant to the issues at hand, it will only hinder your relationship with Chat in the long run.”
Breathing out, Marinette asked, “You know this to be true?”
Bunnyx had a knowing glint to her eyes. “What do you think, Mini Bug?”
With one last wave, she disappeared into her burrow and left the ladybug heroine with a hard decision in her hands. Tikki flew close to her and rested on her shoulder, looking down at the DVDs. “Will you watch them, Marinette?”
Exhausted, Marinette said, “What do you think I should do, Tikki?”
“I think you should hold true to what is important to you. If you want to keep identities safe, then do so. But, if you want to protect your relationship with Chat Noir, maybe watching the show is the best option.”
Marinette frowned. When the situation is put simply, there really is no question of her choice. Her partner comes first, and she wants to understand why he is in so much pain.
Accepting her choice, Marinette suddenly felt there was no time to lose. With a rush of anticipation enveloping her, Marinette opened the first DVD case and placed it in her game box console that connected to her computer screen. Her heart pounded as it loaded. Seeing a list of options for episodes in season one, Marinette clicked on the first episode and hovered her mouse over the play button.
This was it. The moment that would change her relationship with her partner irrevocably. She would know his identity just as he knew hers.
Marinette’s hand trembled on the mouse.
“Marinette?”
Tikki’s kind voice brought Marinette to the present moment. She was only delaying the inevitable. She had already made her decision. Now, all she needed to do was act.
Breathing out deeply, Marinette mustered all her remaining courage before she pressed play.
Settling into a comfortable position with her kwami friends, Marinette listened to the opening music with fear and anticipation. The opening scene had Marinette instantly on her toes. It showed the exact moment Ladybug had been hit. A sparkle of magic shimmered in the spot Ladybug had vacated.
Then, the frame showed Chat Noir fall to his knees, staring at the spot Ladybug had been hit, with horror on his features.
“Ladybug! No!”
Alternates wicked laughter roared as Chat Noir’s face grew feral in his pain. Screaming, he raced towards the akuma, not seeing the staff aimed towards him in his haze of anger. Barely blocking the attack with his baton, the sound of his body colliding with a building boomed across the streets of Paris.
Chat Noir groaned. His body slid broken and weak down the concrete wall the akuma had thrown him into. With a hiccup, he watched the akuma laugh again in glee.
The akuma’s voice was wickedly victorious when he spoke. “She is gone.”
Angry tears slid down Chat Noir’s cheek as his eyes became uncertain and fearful. In a whisper under his breath, he spoke his next words as a question, as if by merely speaking them, he could bring her back. “My Lady?”
A stray tear fell down Marinette’s cheek before she broke into a sob. Her dear and lovely partner was utterly alone, and it had been her own fault. Pausing the video as sob after sob wracked her body, Marinette took in Chat Noir’s stricken look.
Tracing her fingers over his features on the computer screen, Marinette made a promise to herself.
She couldn’t promise to always be around or be sensitive to his every need. All she can do is try her best, working with what life gives her. And, if she could, she would not leave him alone like this again.
With a resolute breath, and a huddle of kwami friends on her head and neck, Marinette pressed play, preparing her heart for the worst.
~*~
The complex and intricate emotions that were churning through Marinette’s being were taking its toll on her.
The first initial shock occurred the moment she saw Adrien’s animated face on her screen. She had paused the video on his features, taken several deep breaths, and then screamed.
Tikki barely pried Marinette away from under her bed sheets hours later. Then Marinette went into denial. After all, it was only a show.
It was with this veil of denial wrapped around her heart that she could play the next episode.
Several episodes in, she was hooked. It was easy to take Chat Noir’s character out of reality and place him in a world of fiction. She sometimes forgot she was watching a show about her partner, best friend, and crush.
The next shock came when Alya entered the frame. Slipping an ambiguous note into Chat’s hand, explaining it was to be used as a last resort, brough Marinette back to reality. Her name was on that paper. That information alone gave her a stomachache.
Fortunately, she could forget about the note. Chat Noir exhausted every other option available to him, a process that took place over a grueling two weeks. Marinette felt her heart become in tune with his as he stressed and worried about a future without Ladybug.
Interestingly enough, the character of Ladybug in the show seemed to represent a distant hope. To Marinette, it seemed as if Ladybug was an unrealistic figure only known by Chat Noir. Marinette managed to take herself out of the story as a result. Ladybug was the person Chat Noir was looking for—not her. This chain of events took place over the first two seasons.
Marinette watched the episodes in chunks, only able to get through so many episodes in a day. Thankfully, the number of akuma attacks remained low while she spent her time binging seasons. Marinette’s actual issue was in the red of her eyes, giving away her late nights. Alya only shook her head when she saw her friend each morning, more exhausted than the last. Adrien also appeared concerned, but Marinette carefully avoided his eyes. She could only handle so much, after all. And, because of the lack of akuma attacks, she had avoided seeing Chat Noir outside of their routine patrols.
A week into the show, all of Marinette’s thoughts of ignorance fluttered away the moment Adrien began contemplating looking at the note he had kept hidden. Watching the scene when Adrien slowly opened the note gave Marinette stomach cramps. She paused and restarted the episode multiple times just to take bathroom breaks. Yet, as she had held her breath in terrified anticipation, the gentle smile that had passed over his features when he opened the note gave her pause. He seemed almost… happy.
Marinette’s stomach cramps evolved into a series of butterflies. This was unexpected.
Naturally, the next episode had to be played instantly—according to herself and her kwami friends. It didn’t matter just how late the night had gotten, or how bloated her face was becoming from the lack of sleep. She must know what happens next.
That next episode had Marinette gasping in horror when the screen showed her crush in her room. A smirk entered his feature as he glanced at the posters of his civil self decorating her walls. Oh, how was she ever going to face him again?
The kwamis coaxed Marinette back to life when Bunnyx came into the picture, presenting a way to cross worlds.
Naturally, the feel of the show shifted substantially once Chat Noir entered the other dimension.
Marinette cringed when she saw the animated version of herself holding a knife, suspicious of Adrien’s presence. It was odd watching herself—rather, a different version of herself—interacting with Adrien.
While it was almost embarrassing to witness, seeing the world through Adrien’s perspective was enlightening. If there is one thing Marinette can grasp from all of this, it is Adrien’s view of her—and that Tikki made an adorable ladybug. Mariette felt a blush creep to her cheeks as she watched how her face was practically glowing whenever he would look at her. The kwamis chortled at her discomfort.
Marinette’s embarrassment soon turned to frustration when she saw how fervently her counterpart denied being a hero. Marinette knew in the depths of her bones that the denial stemmed from insecurity. Yet, knowing how hard Adrien was trying, seeing him work so hard to help her remember, it made Marinette want to cry.
Another day passed before Marinette found herself huffing in impatience. Her alternative-self was angry at hearing about Ladybug’s frequent rejections of Chat Noir. Naturally, this gave her counterpart a reason to not acknowledge her identity as Ladybug because, of course, she wouldn’t reject Chat Noir. It made Marinette want to pull her hair out.
Watching the scene play out—the dramatic moment immersed in conflict as her alternative-self stared up at Chat Noir with impassioned eyes—Marinette felt something shift within her. It was hot and angry, unwilling to relent to grace and mercy. Chat Noir’s eyes were glistening as he stared at her counterpart. Suddenly, Marinette realized what was building in the foundation of her being.
Jealousy.
Watching how her other-self interacted with Chat Noir, and how sweet he was to her, made Marinette’s skin itch. Marinette didn’t recognize it at first. It began small and subtle, but multiple episodes later found it growing into a terrible monster that was slowly eating her alive.
Marinette only acknowledged the feeling of jealousy when Adrien brushed away strands of hair from her alternative-self’s face while the girl slept through a nightmare. Marinette began chewing at her nails when she saw the concern on his face. This was not okay…
Marinette knew her jealousy was irrational, yet it burned faster through her every time she watched a special moment pass between the pair.
Then, all froze when Marinette heard her alternative-self speak to Chat with passion.
“She doesn’t deserve you.”
How could she counter a statement she had just said to Chat Noir when he had last been on her balcony?
It was sweet that Chat Noir seemed to defend his right to love Ladybug, but Marinette’s heart felt bitter in her shame. It made looking at Adrien the next day at school even more impossible.
Twelve days into her marathon brought the bedhead back into style. She didn’t give it much thought as she grumbled at the clever nature of Bunnyx’s plan—watching the heroine place the diary in the other dimension. The journal seemed to have been the last push needed for her alternative-self to acknowledge her identity as a heroine. Through the eyes of Adrien, Marinette watched in fascination as the girl accepted the truth. The ladybug suite appeared in a blaze of fire before the girl evaporated from the alternative universe. Adrien was smiling as Chloe screamed. After calling Bunnyx, he found the girl still in her hero suite laying in the rain on an empty rooftop. Marinette recognized the place. It was where she had been hit by the akuma.
Some of the burning jealous Marinette felt towards her alternative-self eased slightly after seeing the weak state the girl had been in after crossing dimensions. Marinette almost felt bad for her… almost. Of course, those feelings were doused when Adrien placed a kiss on the girl’s cheek a few episodes later. Marinette growled while the other kwamis cooed. She has seen that look on her partner’s face before, and it left her fidgeting in her seat that her alternative-self was now on the receiving end.
The monster of jealousy didn’t look good on Marinette. After the second weekend had passed, her peers found her more irritable than usual. Even more out of the ordinary was the occasional glare she would shoot Adrien’s way. Alya would raise her eyes at Marinette before scolding her for not getting enough sleep. Marinette knew Alya was right, but it didn’t stop her from putting in the next DVD that evening.
When her alternative-self fell on her face while doing a flip, Marinette’s laughter was too cynical for her nature. Tikki shot her a look of reproach before reminding her of her first time in the suit. This squelched any other laughter Marinette might have expressed at her counterparts’ expense. Not to mention, any remaining laughter would have died when she saw Chat Noir take the girl into his arms. Marinette knew she was truly lacking too much sleep when she growled at the screen.
After a few concerning looks from the kwamis, Marinette became more aware of her actions and felt ashamed. That night, she went to bed early.
Her few extra hours of sleep came in handy on her next patrol with Chat Noir. He asked after her health, likely wondering why she was acting so cold to his civilian self. Ladybug gave a blanket answer and was thankful when he dropped the subject. He acted more like his usual self, which helped Ladybug breathe more easily with him. Still, she would occasionally catch him staring at her, and she knew who he was thinking of. She reined in her frustration until she went home that evening.
When watching the show the following evening, Tikki hugged Marinette tightly when Chat Noir held the other Ladybug in his arms, his grief becoming apparent.
“I… I am just really going to miss this side of you when this is all over.”
Marinette’s breath hitched at his words. The other Ladybug was rightfully confused. Marinette couldn’t help gritting her teeth when they expressed their love for one another.
“I want you to remember these words the next time my other self does something stupid, like rejecting you. I love you, Chat Noir. I love every part of you; civilian or superhero.”
Marinette’s mouth opened in her shock while the kwamis around her cooed at the romantic gesture. Marinette understood why the girl had said it, but she wonders if this hurt Chat more than helped him. As the pair held each other in their arms, and the scene faded out, Marinette felt the urge to cry.
Tikki gazed at Marinette with soft concern. “Are you okay, Marinette?”
“I will be.”
Pollen pipped in. “Only one more episode left!”
Breathing out, Marinette headed toward her bed, not feeling like she could handle another episode. “Yeah. Let’s finish it tomorrow.”
The kwamis put up a small fuss, but Tikki hushed them quickly.
Marinette lay awake that night, attempting to understand what was making her so upset. She could already tell that she was jealous, but it seemed rather silly given that the girl she was jealous of was just another form of herself. Yet, the girl on screen loved both Chat Noir and Adrien equally—loving him in a way that Marinette hasn’t… or hadn’t.
Turning to her side to let the stray tears fall, Marinette wondered if Chat Noir could ever see past Marinette Cheng, and be willing to give Marinette Dupain-Cheng another chance.
~*~
Marinette thought she knew jealousy. It had been her continued companion over the two and a half weeks of watching the show, and she was growing used to its presence.
She was wrong. The monster within her was punny compared to the leviathan that was now rearing its head.
The last minutes of the final episode kept both kwami and human captivated in anticipation of the end. Marinette hadn’t prepared herself properly for this.
Through Chat Noir’s eyes, they watched his utter heartbreak as Ladybug held the charm in her hands. Her face was aglow in beauty as she stared at him with the same angst. Chat Noir didn’t show any surprise, only glad acceptance, when Ladybug strode up to him and tilted her head up in invitation.
Marinette felt bile build in her throat when a look of desperate longing passed over his features just before his lips touched hers. Naturally, the show added a flare of drama to the scene by playing sad romantic music in the background while adding sparkles of light throughout the frame.
It lasted longer than Marinette thought necessary. After all, the girl was about to transform. She didn’t have time to go kissing boys.
The act of pulling away seemed like an act of torture for both parties. Chat Noir’s hand came to rest under Ladybug’s hand where the charm was being held. In a soft whisper, they both expressed vows of love.
“Goodbye, Marinette Cheng.”
Marinette’s heart clenched.
The charm was thrown, and the girl breathed out her goodbye before the screen turned black.
“That’s it? What about a sequel!?” Trixx appeared upset by the turn of events.
Wayzz spoke calmly. “The cure made the show cease existing. There can’t be a sequel.”
“Oh. Right.”
Mullo chimed in. “It’s pretty amazing that Bunnyx got it just before it disappeared.”
Marinette felt as if her body were a distant entity from herself. Breathing out, she whispered, “Yeah.”
The kwamis all looked to their guardian with some concern. Gently, Tikki placed a paw to her cheek. “Marinette? Are you okay?”
Another breath. “Yeah.”
Marinette slowly moved to her bed, wanting sleep to find her. She now understood why Chat Noir had such a look of despair on his face when she had first opened her eyes. The girl he loved was gone.
~*~
Ladybug embraced the sharp kiss of wind that touched her cheek as she stared at her city. The glow from the building’s lights were like fairy dust drizzled across the night skyline.
“Good evening, Ladybug.”
Chat Noir landed quietly before he sat beside her on the edge of the Eiffel Tower, swinging his feet as he spoke. “You wanted to cat?”
The wink he gave her warmed her soul.
She smiled at him before scooting closer. It had been several days since she’d finished the final episode of The Adventures of Chat Noir. She knew it was time to tell Chat about her newfound knowledge.
With her heart in her throat, Ladybug bit her lip. “Yes, I… I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Chat Noir pointed to his leather cat ears with a smile. “I’m all ears.”
Ladybug smiled at him again. She was glad to see that he had been in a better mood of late. He was either moving on or hiding his pain from her. Either way, she wanted to address the subject.
“Bunnyx paid a visit to my room a few weeks ago.”
The playful look on Chat Noir’s face vanished. He seemed to put himself on guard, uncertain what she would say next.
Sighing, Ladybug tried to hide the tremble in her hands.
“She gave me a present. Just before the cure was cast, she managed to save the show named The Adventures of Chat Noir.”
Chat Noir’s eyes widened as he gasped. “What?”
Licking her lips, Ladybug looked at her hands, her voice hardly a whisper. “I just finished watching the last episode a few days ago.”
Chat Noir’s brows crinkled. “I could only watch certain parts. What does the last episode entail?”
The question was earnest as he gazed at her, waiting for her response.
“Uh, the last episode showed when the other Ladybug cast the cure.”
Chat Noir gasped. “Really? I didn’t know the show would still be a thing once we came back to this world!”
A small smile lit his features as he looked at his hands. “It’s nice that we have a video of it.”
Ladybug’s voice was strangled when she spoke. “Yeah, you could say that.”
Chat Noir’s gaze whipped to hers at her tone. With his lips forming into a thin line, he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. “So, you’ve known my identity since you started watching it?”
“Yeah.”
Sighing, Chat looked at her with a bewildered expression. “Then why have you been glaring at me at school?”
Ladybug’s voice became small as she shrunk in shame. “I’m not glaring anymore.”
Huffing, Chat Noir said, “That’s not the point. Why were you glaring at me in the first place?”
Ladybug didn’t quite know how to answer that question.
“I’m sorry. I was a bit sleep deprived from binging through the episodes…”
Chat Noir’s face showed he knew she wasn’t sharing the whole story. “Are you angry with me?”
Ladybug’s voice was a whisper. “No.”
Sighing, Chat Noir turned to face her more fully. “Then, what’s going on? Did you not like what you saw in the show?”
Ladybug’s voice came out more strongly than she had intended. “I didn’t like the last two seasons.”
Chat Noir’s brows scrunched up. “I don’t understand. We found you during those episodes. Isn’t that the good part of the show?”
“I guess.”
“You guess? What does that mean? What didn’t you like about it?”
Ladybug’s eyes grew hard as she turned to him, his expression confused. “I didn’t like her.”
A few seconds passed before Ladybug rethought her words. Chat Noir’s expression was that of shock. In a whisper, he said, “Why not? She was amazing.” Taking a breath, he spoke with more volume as he looked at her with a bit of irritation. “Not just that, she is another version of yourself. How could you not like her?”
Ladybug scowled. He would defend her.
“I just don’t.”
Chat Noir’s voice became stern. “That’s not good enough. What do you have against Marinette Cheng?”
Ladybug growled in her frustration. “I just don’t like her! She-she…”
Ladybug could feel the building of tears edge behind her eyes as the emotion clogged her throat. Chat Noir quieted, seeing the change in her demeanor. Taking her hand in his, he whispered, “Please… Please, tell me what is making you so upset?”
Ladybug’s lip trembled. She was being irrational, and she knew it. Yet, as the night wind danced around him, and the green of his eyes gleamed with his concern, Ladybug felt all her resolve break.
“You… you seemed to really love her.” Ladybug’s voice hitched as Chat Noir reeled back at her statement.
“Yes…”
Ladybug’s eyes were glassy as she stared at him. “When you look at me, can you only see her? Am I… Do I matter to you anymore?”
A tear slid down her cheek. Ladybug had hardly finished her sentence before Chat Noir hurriedly pulled her into his arms. Cradling her, he wiped the falling tear from her cheek and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.
Grabbing her face in his hand, he placed his forehead on hers. “How could you even think that you don’t matter to me?”
The dam within Ladybug’s heart had broken, and she could do nothing to stop the onslaught of tears as the insecurity she had been bathing in overwhelmed her senses.
“Because you seemed to love her more!”
Oh boy. Even in her own head, Ladybug knew she sounded like a child. Cringing, she moved to pull away from him. He didn’t budge as he pulled her even closer.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. “Now, that’s just silly and you know it.”
Ladybug groaned in her embarrassment. Chat Noir brushed her bangs back, not letting her hide her face. Gruffly, Ladybug said, “If you watch the show, you’ll see why I’m thinking the way I am.” Then, turning her eyes more fully on him, ignoring how close their faces were in this position, Ladybug said with indignation, “You even kissed her!”
The gleam in Chat Noir’s eyes told Ladybug he found her words funny. His lips trembled as he fought to hide his laughter. She wanted to throw him off the tower. Glaring at him, she said, “You think this is funny?”
Breathing deeply, he attempted to control himself. “My Lady, I’m sorry. I never thought I’d see the day when you were jealous—let alone jealous of yourself.”
Hearing his own words, Chat Noir began giggling. Ladybug’s face turned deadpanned. “I’m glad you find my pain amusing.”
Huffing out a breath, he bumped his nose against hers. “Come now, LB, you know that’s not the case.”
“Chat, you are literally laughing right now.”
Breathing deeply, Chat Noir said, “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. I’m sorry. You’re just so cute.”
Ladybug couldn’t fight the blush that traveled to her cheeks, further flaming her growing irritation. Chat Noir’s eyes gleaming knowingly at her, seeing the effect his words had on her. This made Ladybug’s scowl deepen.
“You’re changing the subject. That girl was not me, and you know it.”
Chat Noir’s brow hitched up. “I completely disagree with you. That girl was 100% you. She just had different experiences than you did.” Chat Noir’s thumb brushed the apple of her cheek as he whispered his next words. “But, My Lady, that girl had the same beautiful bravery that you show daily. She was kind and felt strongly over things that she deemed unjust.”
The feel of his gloves on her skin slightly distracted Ladybug, but she attempted to maintain focus. “I… I don’t see how that makes her me.”
Chat Noir’s eyes sparkled before he brushed his lips against her cheek. Ladybug’s heart leaped. In her ear, Chat whispered, “I love her just as I love you.”
It was a sweet sentiment, yet it reminded Ladybug of the multiple scenes when words of love were exchanged, making her want to growl.
“Well, that face isn’t very encouraging, My Lady. Are you rejecting my love for you?”
He made the statement in jest, but the glow of fear in his eyes brought Ladybug to her senses.
“I’m not rejecting you, Chat. I just can’t understand how you can love the both of us when we are different.”
Chat Noir sighed as he shook his head. “Okay, Ladybug. If you want to believe that she is different, I’m not sure how to convince you otherwise.”
Ladybug frowned, feeling unsettled by his tone. Was he giving up on her?
Stuttering in a breath, Ladybug said, “You said you missed her. If I am her, how could you miss her?”
Chat Noir grew contemplative. “I see what you mean. Well, I wasn’t lying when I said I missed her, and that I feel grief.” Taking a few moments, he continued. “Marinette Cheng was someone I shared experiences with, and a lot of them were very intense. We literally crossed worlds together. She openly expressed how she loved me…”
Chat Noir trailed off with a frown. “I guess when I say that I miss her, I am saying that I miss the version of you who depended on me to teach her how to overcome her fears, who fainted at the first sight of Plagg, who became flustered when I flirted with her, and who openly loved me…”
Chat Noir glanced away from her, not able to look her in the eye. “I really enjoyed spending time with her, and I felt the loss of her immediately.”
Chat Noir looked back at Ladybug before whispering, “One moment, I have the girl I’m in love with telling me she loves me too. The next moment, that same girl sees me as only a friend, and has forgotten some of my favorite memories with her. My feelings for her are unchanging, but I have lost her.”
Ladybug felt her throat close. The way he was explaining it suddenly made more sense to her. In the show, Ladybug saw this girl as a person who would take her place. But to Chat, this girl and her were the same.
Swallowing hard, Ladybug attempted to speak. “If you believe we are the same person, then wouldn’t it be true that I love you as well?”
The corner of Chat Noir’s lips quirked upright. “I would love to think like that, My Lady, but my heart can’t handle being wrong. This experience showed me that you could grow to love me, or that you would be able to at some point. I just didn’t know if or when that would happen.” Winking at her, Chat Noir continued in a playful tone. “You have rejected me enough times for me to question it.”
Ladybug scowled more at herself than at him. “Well, you stand corrected, because I have always loved you.”
Chat Noir seemed to jump backwards at her words before his brows furrowed. “Excuse me for questioning it, My Lady, but the amount of roses I’ve thrown in the trash says otherwise.”
Sighing, Ladybug felt guilt eating at her. “I’ve been crushing on your civilian self ever since I met you.”
A few moments passed before something clicked in Chat’s mind. “Right, the posters. Are you… are you sure that’s really love?”
His voice had grown soft as he finished speaking, his eyes becoming doubtful. She understood why, but she needed to reassure him.
Bringing her hand to his cheek, she spoke sincerely. “Adrien, I really do love you. I don’t love you for your looks or status, just for being you.”
Chat Noir’s eyes grew wide. In a trembling voice, he said, “But… What about Chat Noir? He is just as much a part of Adrien as Adrien is a part of him.”
“I love him too.”
Chat Noir raised a doubtful eyebrow at her.
Ladybug had to get creative if she was going to convince him. Thinking of a solution, Ladybug considered something. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t share this embarrassing moment with her crime-fighting partner, but she couldn’t think of another option.
Hardening herself, she spoke her next words with resignation. “Something distracted me that day… the day the akuma hit me. Actually, it was you who distracted me. It was when you smiled—when you smiled as Chat Noir. It was… distracting.” Her voice came out in a jumble. She closed her eyes, not having better words to explain herself and not wanting to see his reaction. A few seconds passed in silence before Ladybug peaked one eye open. She really shouldn’t have been surprised by his expression.
With a wide, gleeful smirk, he said, “So, what you’re saying is, my handsome purr-son distracted you?”
Gritting her teeth, Ladybug said, “It was more than that… but yes.”
The latter part of her sentence came out in a grumble as she looked away from him. His arms tightened around her, bringing her face an inch from his.
Gasping at the change, Ladybug looked at him with wide eyes. Though the smirk was still on his face, his eyes were gentle and hopeful. “Are you saying that you love Chat Noir just as much as you love Adrien?”
If he had asked her that question several weeks ago, she wouldn’t have been able to answer the question honestly. Yet, after watching the life of both Adrien and Chat Noir intertwined together over the last few weeks, and experiencing the threat of another person taking her place in his heart, Ladybug had grown to understand her own heart. She truly loved him—all of him. He was both gentle and kind, loyal and humorous, cautious and quiet, handsome and brave. He was her best friend and first love. He was her partner and her classmate.
Ladybug could only say one word. “Yes.”
Chat Noir’s eyes grew uncertain. “Are… Are you sure?”
Ladybug couldn’t help her smile. “Most definitely.”
The smile that broke out on Chat Noir’s face brought Ladybug back to the moment the akuma hit her. He was illuminating joy, and it was beautiful.
They stared at each other for several moments. Ladybug couldn’t help the emotion building in her throat. “I really do love you, Chat.”
Chat Noir let out a merry laugh, his eyes gleaming from this unexpected moment. “I love you too, Marinette.”
Ladybug felt immense joy before a thought occurred to her. Clearing her throat, Ladybug said, “You know my last name isn’t just Cheng, right?”
Chat Noir stared at her before letting out another laugh. “Yes, My Lady.”
Ladybug smiled knowingly up at him. “Good. I don’t want you to forget.”
Chat Noir leaned close to her ear, a smile in his voice. “I love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”
Ladybug’s heart made a pleasant leap. Chat Noir took in her face and how flustered she was becoming. A look of affection crossed over his features. After several moments, he slowly began leaning his face forward. He hovered his lips over hers, silently asking permission. Leaning forward, she closed the remaining centimeters between them. When their lips touched, she sighed with joy.
Chat Noir pulled away a few seconds later. He was smiling gently down at her, his expression wholesome in his love for her.
Ladybug bathed in the moment. Then, quite suddenly, an unpleasant and irrational thought came to Ladybugs’ mind. With growing unease, Ladybug spoke with urgency. “Chat, I need you to kiss me again. I need you to do it for a little longer. Okay?”
Chat Noir’s expression, still blissful, became humorously confused at her request. “Umm, not that I won’t do that, My Lady, but can I ask why?”
She really didn’t want to tell him.
Keeping her lips shut, his eyebrows slowly continued to raise at her silence. Another moment passed before a glint of an idea entered his eyes. Tilting his head at her, his smile became teasing. “My Lady, are you competing with yourself?”
Ladybug cleared her throat, attempting to not feel embarrassed or ashamed. If she remembers the scene correctly, Marinette Cheng and Chat Noir kissed for a total of five seconds.
Looking at the satisfied look on his face, Ladybug huffed. “So, will you kiss me or not?”
Chat Noir giggled. “Okay, okay. Are you going to be counting the seconds, or should I?”
Ladybug grunted in her annoyance. When he kissed her, there was a smile on his lips. Ladybug counted one second before he pulled away.
The smile on his face was positively wicked at her look of dissatisfaction. “Not long enough, My Lady? Should we try again?”
Ladybug grumbled. “Stupid cat.”
Chat giggled at her before he placed his lips on hers once more. Ladybug held his head there, determined to win. Chat kept laughing as they kissed. Ladybug kissed him harder, hoping to stop his chortling.
He pulled away after four seconds, his giggles getting the best of him.
“Chat!”
Chat Noir was practically wheezing. “I’m sorry. This is just too good.”
Ladybug huffed in annoyance, knowing how silly she was being, but she was too far in it to turn back now. Once Chat Noir calmed himself, he leaned his forehead against hers. She stared at his lips, waiting for the opportunity. Seeming to notice her stare, Chat let out another breathy giggle before he kissed her again.
Though he was still smiling, his lack of laughter made the experience more quiet—more intense. Ladybug breathed deeply, taking in the feel of his lips. She began counting.
1, 2, 3…
Ladybug soon lost count.