Chapter Text
Marinette was in her room, like she usually was in the evening, sketching away. Barring any Akuma attacks, she actually had a free night. And no, that was not an invitation to the universe to have an Akuma pop up.
Just as she was thinking she should take advantage of being ahead for once and go to sleep (somewhat) early, there was a knocking sound on the trapdoor to her balcony.
That was... odd. No one should be up there. Perhaps it was a stray pigeon?
No. There it was again. It was too rhythmic to be a pigeon. Which left only two things that could make it up to the balcony: an Akuma, or Chat Noir.
Given that Akumas didn't tend to knock, it was likely the latter. Which wasn't entirely odd. Chat Noir liked to pop in on her every once in a while. Get a few treats from the bakery and try to convince her to come be Multimouse again.
However, when she opened the balcony door, she found a different green-eyed blonde staring at her.
"A-Adrien?!" Marinette exclaimed. "What-where-how the FUCK did you get up here?"
"Long story?" Adrien shrugged. "But I got your text after fencing let out and it's been driving me crazy all afternoon! And I didn't want to wait until class tomorrow because all this is going to be a hell of a talk and-"
"Wait, what?" She shook her head. "What text? I didn't text you since this morning?"
"You didn't?" He said. "But then what... hold on. Let me pull up what you sent."
He took his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it before handing it over. On the screen was a large wall of text, coming from Marinette's number. A large wall of text she absolutely did not send.
As she read through the text, a pit of dread built in her stomach.
The text was a love confession. An almost overbearing and creepy love confession. The 'We're totally soulmates! Made for each other! There's no one who can love you the way I do! You belong with me!" Kind of overbearing and creepy.
"I d-didn't type this!" Marinette exclaimed. "That's not- I would never do this through a text! And I especially wouldn't be so... possessive! I have no idea what- oh. I am going to murder Alya!!"
"What?" Adrien asked, tilting his head. "Why?"
"Ugh!" She groaned, handing him his phone back. "After gym Alya told me I dropped my phone and she found it. I'm not sure if I dropped it or if she snagged it, which I really can't be mad about because that's just karma. But I can be mad at her for sending that message!"
"Oh," he said, kind of deflating a little. "It was a prank? I... that's kind of a mean prank, isn't it? Making me think you're in love with me?"
"No, th-that's not-" she stammered out. "It's not a - a prank exactly. It's- she's trying to h-help."
"Help with what?" He wondered.
Oh boy.
Marinette started pacing. If Adrien wasn't literally right here she'd be rambling and ranting to herself. Now was not a good time to discuss this! But then... he came over here to talk about it in the middle of the night, probably sneaking out of his house given the late hour, and somehow climbing be building up to her balcony because he thought she was in love with him.
And while most of her was screaming that this was bad, that he was in love with someone else, that he was going to (gently) reject her... the fact that he came here to be alone with her after reading that, and felt safe enough to be around her given the possessiveness of the message that he thought was from her.... it gave her some sort of hope.
This was nerve wracking as hell! But she had a way out. She could just say it was about something else. Maybe about how Alya is trying to set them up! That would be a good excuse both now and the next time Alya tried to force her into confessing! She wouldn't have to think up something on the spot or hope for a distraction.
But... having that way out... somehow helped calm her down. With a deep breath, she decided to take a chance.
"She's tr-trying to help," Marinette began. "Because- because while I wouldn't say any of the stuff in that message like that I- I do.... l-like you. Like-like that. And I know you love someone else! That's okay! It's one of the reasons I wasn't going to say anything and fuck can you say something because now I'm rambling and-"
"It's okay," Adrien said. "I feel like I'm supposed to be smacked with surprise, but I already went through the "holy shit she likes me!" Phase when I got the message."
She nodded, scared to say anything. Her emotions were going haywire. She confessed! It was in a weird as hell situation but she confessed! And he didn't go running for the hills!
But he also wasn't answering. Which was terrifying. Even if he was going to reject her, she'd at least like for him to say it!
"N-not to put you on the spot," Marinette said. "But..."
"No, that's okay!" Adrien replied. "I'm the one who showed up on your balcony, after all!"
"You still haven't explained that," she said.
"Anyway," he said, dodging the question. "My feelings are very complicated. Because... i mean, I already told you about that girl I like."
"Yeah," she said, swallowing down her anxiety.
"Well she doesn't feel the same," he said, giving a sad smile. "But I fell for her, and then I started to see you and you remind me so much of her. From the way you look, to the way you stand up for others, to the near-infinite kindness you have, it all reminded me of her. So I wrote off any feelings I have for you as projection, if that makes sense. And when I first got that message, it hit me full force. I spent hours trying to figure out if I like you or if I just wanted to like you because you're similar to the girl who rejected me and-"
"Wait, back up," she shook her head. "I thought you were talking about Kagami, but she's not that similar to me and she definitely hasn't rejected you!"
"I-huh?" He asked. "Oh god I just realized I asked you to help me on a date with Kagami! I am such a jackass!"
"No, that's okay," she laughed. "You didn't know. But still, you and Kagami..."
"It wasn't Kagami I meant," he said. "She's a friend, but not like that. I tried to like her because it was moving on from the rejection, something I didn't try with you because you're so similar to the other girl. But I didn't feel the same about her. And I know I need to outright talk to her but it never seems like a good time."
"I know that feeling," she muttered. "But if it wasn't Kagami, then who?"
"That's... difficult to explain," he said.
While waiting for an answer, she tried to puzzle it out. Adrien said that the girl looked like her, but there wasn't anyone he knew who looked like her. None of their classmates made the list. Neither did any of the models Adrien usually worked with during photoshoots.
Kagami came the closest, as they both had black hair and Asian features, but he'd already said it wasn't her. And even if they looked identical, their personalities weren't.
Then she remembered the one time he had ever compared her to another girl. He'd called her "our everyday Ladybug". And, well, that almost made sense, since she was Ladybug and would therefore act exactly like herself.
And she almost shook it off, because how would Adrien know Ladybug's personality enough to somehow make the connection back to Marinette?
Except she knew another green-eyed blonde. One who had been rejected by Ladybug. The one who seemed interested in Marinette but initially rejected her for herself. Who low-key flirted with Kagami. Who was always a bit more patient with Chloé, even when she was being a brat.
Just as she was about to brush it off as coincidence,she realized that it would explain how he had climbed up to her balcony so easily. It felt like a million little puzzle pieces clicked into place at once. And it all made sense to her.
"Holy fuck you're Chat Noir!"
Even if she hadn't already known, his reaction said everything. He wasn't confused, he was panicked, and wondering how she figured it out so he could come up with a cover story.
"I have no idea what you mean!" Adrien exclaimed. "Me? Chat Noir? That's just silly!"
"You called me your 'everyday Ladybug'," Marinette said, crossing her arms. "Ladybug is the only girl who fits, except she's never rejected "Adrien". But she did reject a different boy with green eyes and blonde hair."
"Well- I just- fuck," he sighed. "Don't tell LB she might actually murder me."
And Marinette was pacing again. She was going over the fact that she had rejected Adrien fucking Agreste for himself goddamn it! And he'd fallen for her twice, somehow. And if she was entirely honest she'd done the same thing, as the only reasons she didn't let herself fall further for Chat was because of Adrien and the secret identity shenanigans.
They were a fucking train wreck.
"The Chat Noir thing isn't a deal breaker, right?" Adrien asked. "I know I sort of rejected you as Chat but that was half the whole "I thought I liked you because you remind me of Ladybug" and half "you don't know me as Chat so it's probably a celebrity crush and not liking the real me" thing!"
"It's not a deal breaker," Marinette admitted. "As long as it's not a deal breaker that I did the same thing, and that the whole Weredad incident started because I was trying to keep you from figuring out a certain secret that's probably not going to be a secret much longer."
"What?" He asked.
"Were idiots, kitty," she sighed. "I fell for you twice while rejecting you for yourself. And you did the same with me. And I am so going to kill Tikki and Plagg for letting this go on for so long!"
She could see the gears turning in his head. And from the weight on her shoulder, she guessed Tikki had given up on hiding.
"On the bright side," Adrien laughed nervously, "you can't kill me for screwing up and letting slip about my secret identity because you just told me yours."
"True," she said. "Though while I'm glad we got to talk this all out, I'm still going to kill Alya for sending that message. Especially since she needs to figure out how to not make me sound like some kind of crazed fan."
"To be fair," he grinned. "I have seen the wall of pictures."
"Oh god don't remind me," she groaned.
"He's not allowed to comment on it," Plagg spoke up. "Considering he has every piece of Ladybug merchandise ever made."
"Plagg!" Tikki huffed. "Let them have their moment!"
As she dragged him off, Marinette and Adrien laughed. Then he took her hand. And while she was a little overwhelmed, because "oh my god Adrien is holding my hand!!!!", it was calmed a bit. The knowledge of him being both Adrien and Chat Noir helped to calm the feeling in her. Instead of an excited tremble in her heart, if felt like settling down. In a good way.
"So," Adrien said. "I don't want to assume, but if we both like each other then-"
And he was cut off with a kiss. That definitely brought the explosion of emotion back to the forefront. When they parted, she was pretty sure she could see stars in his eyes.
"I think that sums it up," Marinette giggles.
"Yeah, it really does," Adrien grinned.
"Now," she said. "While I would love to do that again, you should probably get home before your dad finds you missing, and we have to send out another search party."
"Well at least we won't have to fight Santa this time," he said.