Chapter Text
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug called up in the air, releasing the magical ladybugs to fix everything throughout Paris.
"Oh no, again?" Mr. Pigeon, or now Xavier Ramier, said, putting his head in his hands as Ladybug and Chat Noir said, "Pound it!" Bumping their fists together.
"Let's get you home, Mr. Ramier," Ladybug said, helping the older man up off the ground.
"I'll come with you," Chat said.
The two of them brought the man home. Since they had a few minutes before they transformed back, they went and sat on a tall rooftop to watch the sun set.
"That was a great save, m'lady," Chat smirked once they got settled.
"It was nothing," Ladybug rolled her eyes. "You're making it seem like that wasn't the... what, fifty-fifth time we've dealt with Mr. Pigeon?"
"Fifty-sixth, actually," Chat pointed out smugly.
"You're only further proving my point, Kitty," Ladybug laughed.
She went back to staring at the sunset, but Chat couldn't tear his eyes off the beautiful girl next to him.
She glanced at him and blushed. "Chat, you're staring again."
"Oh, what? Sorry, bugaboo," He laughed, looking away from her. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but he also just wanted to spend more time looking at her since he knew they would be transforming back soon.
"What's up?" Ladybug asked.
"Oh, it's nothing," Chat sighed.
"You know you can tell me anything, Kitty," She smiled, taking his hands in hers.
"Not anything," He mumbled, noting he only had two pads left on his ring. Only two more minutes until he had to leave Ladybug again.
"Look, I know it hurts, Kitty, but you know that it's for the best," She said, taking her hands away and wrapping her arms around her legs, pulling them close to her chest.
"Yeah, I know," he said, looking back towards the sunset again.
Ladybug's earings started beeping.
"I guess I should get going," Se said, unhooking her yoyo from around her waist.
Chat Noir shook his head slightly and clenched his jaw as his ring started beeping. He couldn't just say goodbye again. His heart couldn't take it.
"No," He said, standing up and facing her.
"No?" Ladybug said, bewildered.
"No!" He said, firmer this time. He took her hands in his, making her drop her yoyo. "I love you, bugaboo. I can't imagine my life without you! And, I know that it's safer for us to not know each other's identities. But, I just don't care anymore! I love you with all my heart, m'lady, and it's just too painful for me to say goodbye to you every time we fight together and not know who you really are or when I'm going to see you again."
"Kitty, you know I'm in love with someone else," Ladybug lamented.
"I know, but... I just want to know, ok?" He stared deep into her eyes.
She took a deep breath and said, "Ok."
"Ok?" he asked, giddy.
"Ok," She smiled a little. "But, this doesn't mean anything between us can change."
"I know," Chat said, slightly sad, "But I just can't do this any longer without knowing."
They stood there for a moment as the beeping from their miraculuoses continued. Chat couldn't wait to know who the love of his life is, but he wanted her to make the first move. He wanted to make sure she was ok with it.
She took a deep breath and looked down at the ground. Chat did the same.
"Spots off."
"Claws in."
Before he could bring himself to look up, he looked at her shoes. He knew those shoes.
"Adrien?" She asked, and he finally looked up.
"Marinette," He couldn't remember the last time he smiled this wide.
Adrien always knew he had a connection with the girl standing in front of him. She was always an amazing friend. But, he had never considered that the connection he felt was love. But, now that he's standing here looking at her, the girl of his dreams, he really didn't want it any other way.
All Adrien wanted to do was kiss her. But, she was in love with someone else. That would be wrong.
"So, now that we know each other's identities, can you tell me who that boy you're in love with is?" Adrien teased, falling into his Chat Noir persona.
Marinette didn't respond. By the look on her face, she hadn't even registered that he said anything.
"Marinette?" He asked, freeing one of his hands and putting it on her shoulder to get her attention. She looked up at him, then over at their exhausted Kwamis.
"Uh, I have to go freak- I mean feed! Feed Tikki! Bye!" She said, scooping up Tikki and putting her in her little purse and using the fire escape stairs on the side of the building to run off, stumbling as she did.
"Marinette, wait!" Adrien called, trying to make her come back so they would talk, but to no avail.
He pulled a piece of Camembert out of his jacket and handed it to Plagg, then laid down on the roof to look at the stars.
"I messed up, didn't I, Plagg?" He asked.
"Marinette is like a fine cheese, Adrien," Plagg said, and Adrien rolled his eyes. Of course, Plagg would make a cheese reference at a time like this. "You have to let her age, and then she'll be even better."
"What does that even mean, Plagg?" Adrien sighed.
"Just give her a day or two to process all this new information," Plagg said, "You know how she is. She overthinks everything."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Adrien lamented. "I'll give her a day or two, then ask her to talk."
He spent a few more minutes looking up at the stars before getting up and transforming back so he could slip back into his house unnoticed. As he was running over the rooftops of Paris, he reflected on what he did today. He really hoped that his decision wouldn't cost him his friendship with Marinette.