Chapter Text
Adrien knew it was Marinette. Common sense was that if she had all the miraculous on, she’d probably have the fox. She would’ve gotten away with it, but Chat Noir could clearly the difference. After the Volpina scandal he’d noticed how flat the illusions could look, so when the tiny Multimouse seemed just a bit lackluster, he simply connected the dots.
Still, she’d put so much effort into the whole thing, so who was he to ruin it for her? He’d simply play along.
Ever since he found out Ladybug’s identity, he tried to get closer to Marinette, but she always seemed to be uncomfortable around Adrien. It disappointed him, but he understood. Adrien came with high expectations, while Chat Noir was free of these standards.
He’d visit Marinette as Chat Noir every chance he got. At first, he was worried Ladybug might reprimand him, but Marinette seemed to enjoy the company.
Unlike Ladybug, sometimes Marinette would entertain Chat’s antics (probably because they weren’t in the middle of battling an akuma.)
They’d play video games, watch anime on her terrace, and eat goodies he wasn’t allowed at home. He considered her his best friend, in and out of the suit.
Unfortunately, he let this slip while hanging out with Alya, Nino and Marinette.
“Surely your friend Marinette will help you with the notes you missed.” Alya said, raising her eyebrows and directing a look towards Marinette.
“You mean best friend Marinette.” Adrien replied lightheartedly.
Marinette turned bright red, while Nino gasped in offense.
“Well who am I then? I thought you and I were closer!” Nino pouted.
“I- uh,” Adrien was at a loss, before deciding to play it off. “I can have more than one best friend Nino don’t get too jealous.” He laughed.
Marinette was still red as she handed Adrien her notes to take a picture of. They were all in the park after school, as they did sometimes when Adrien’s schedule would allow it.
Alya whispered something into Marinette’s ear that made her blush harder. Adrien couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked. He couldn’t believe the girl that threw herself at akumas with no fear could hardly look him in the eye without stuttering. He couldn’t help but tease her.
“Everything ok Marinette?” He leaned closer and put his hand on her forehead. She froze and looked up, cross eyed at his hand. “You look like you’re heating up.”
She practically fell backwards trying to scoot away from his hand. “Yeah yeah! You feel great.” She said in a daze. “I mean I feel great!”
Adrien let out a laugh, and everyone joined in. Marinette even seemed to giggle a little. Adrien took that as a win.
————————————
He kept up this rouse for months, visiting her at nights after patrols or whenever he missed her. As he did this, he began to fall in love with her as Marinette. It wasn’t all at once though. At first when he’d discovered her identity he had trouble seeing the two as one person. But as he spent more time with Marinette he could see all of Ladybug’s characteristics in her, and in turn, Marinette characteristics in Ladybug.
Anytime Ladybug would doubt her plans, she’d get the same face Marinette would make when she proposed something to Adrien. The determination Marinette had when it came to her friends was the same attitude Ladybug had toward all Parisians.
And with that Adrien was hopelessly in love with her. Still, there was Luka.
She mentioned there was an other guy as Ladybug, and before he knew who she was he assumed she and Luka already had a thing. Before, he could accept this, but after knowing everything it hurt a little more.
He put this all aside though, because Marinette was his friend and partner first (and romantic interest second.)
But as he got lost in her eyes one night while talking and sharing snacks he had to ask, had to hope maybe he was wrong.
“So I hear a certain boy has caught your heart Marinette, care to share?” He asked casually, looking away after a particularly vulnerable moment.
“Yeah he has.” Marinette said with a sigh as she started off into the distance, lovestruck.
Adrien couldn’t help but feel disappointed. “What’s he like?”
“God Chat, he’s just perfect. He cares so much about everyone, and despite everything the world had thrown at him, he’s still so kind.” Marinette gushed.
Adrien had heard about how Luka’s father had abandoned him and Juleka when they were younger. He knew how it felt to feel like there was a piece of your family missing, but not ever knowing them must be unbearable. He could tell Marinette thought the world of Luka.
“How do you feel about Ladybug?” Marinette ventured.
Adrien laughed, knowing who she was, it was funny when Marinette asked about herself. She did it often, as though she couldn’t believe anyone could think so highly of her.
“Well, what can I say that isn’t already obvious? She’s determined, kind, funny, and a bit of a klutz.”
Marinette pouted. “No one calls Ladybug a klutz.”
“Well no one else spends as much time with her as I do. At least in costume anyway.”
Marinette begrudgingly agreed.
“Although she could entertain my amazing puns.” Chat teased.
Marinette laughed. “In your dreams kitty.”
If Chat hadn’t already known she was Ladybug, the way she delivered that line would’ve gave it away. There was a certain fondness to it that only his partner could use with him.
————————————
At some point after Marinette became the guardian, something changed.
They communicated if he could come over by her leaving out a cup of milk or her sitting outside around 9. Lately that came less and less.
Ladybug started to miss more and more patrols. She said she was busy, and with the way Marinette no longer had time to hang out with her friends he could tell that was true.
He tried to distract himself and change targets, but that blew up in his face. Kagami was starting to believe his excuses less and less. It was no suprise when she broke off whatever they had.
What was surprising however, was when he heard from Nino, who heard from Alya, who heard from Juleka, that Marinette and Luka had broken up.
She was always tired, and this was evident through her red eyes with dark bags beneath them. Adrien felt so helpless. He wasn’t sure how he could help without telling her what he knew.
He started with little things, like giving her notes she missed without her asking, letting her know it was really okay if she had to miss a patrol here and there, and leaving her little treats on her terrace to find whenever she went up.
One night as he passed by her room to leave a gift, he found the trapdoor cracked open and could hear her crying in her bed. He could hear the kwamis trying to comfort her, but it wasn’t working.
He made a show of dropping down so she’d have time to hide the kwamis before he knocked on the edge of the open trapdoor.
“You ok Marinette?”
When she lifted the trapdoor fully open a minute later he could tell she had tried to make herself look better. Her eyes looked freshly wiped and she had a forced smile on her face.
“Hey Chat. I’m fine just a little busy. Sorry we haven’t hung out in a while.”
Chat could still hear the sobs in his head that had been coming from her not even 5 minutes ago.
He threw his arms around her and she pulled herself into the ledge before crumbling into him.
She sobbed so hard, he was worried she’d break.
They stayed like that for at least half an hour. Chat rubbed her back and whispered affirmations into her ear.
“Shhh, it’ll be okay. You’re okay. You’re doing great.”
He didn’t know how she hadn’t been akumatized, but with him there, there was no way he’d let that happen.
When she finally calmed down, she pulled from him to look him in the eyes.
Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, there was a bit of snot coming from her nose. Still, she looked beautiful in the moonlight.
“I’m sorry Chat. Sometimes it’s just too hard to hold it in.” She said with a hiccup.
Chat pulled her back in. “Everyone needs to let it out every once in a while Marinette. There’s nothing to be sorry for, I’m just glad you chose me to be here for you. Do you wanna talk about it?”
Marinette shook her head. Chat sighed. He wouldn’t push her to say anything, no matter how much he wished she’d tell him.
“What can I do?” He asked.
“Stay with me until I fall asleep?” She whispered into his shoulder.
Chat nodded and she got up and climbed into her bed. Chat followed and left the trapdoor open.
There he laid, her head on his chest until her breathing evened out. He really didn’t want to leave. She was so warm and vulnerable. He was so in love with her.
But he knew he couldn’t stay, so ever so reluctantly, he lifted her from him softly and he left.
————————————
The next day when he saw her, he could see for the first time in what felt like forever she looked like she got some rest.
He ran up to her and hugged her tightly. She stiffened before relaxing into his touch.
“Marinette, I know if I ask you’re gonna tell me you’re okay, but I want you to know I can tell you aren’t. I’m here for you. We’re all here for you. Please don’t push us away.” He said into her hair. It smelled like strawberries and sweets, like always. It was comforting.
“O-okay.” She stuttered out. “Thank you Adrien.” She said softly. He felt her hold on a little tighter.