Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They were taking in the last rays of sunshine, content, relaxed and their feet dangling roughly 400 feet above the ground. Ladybug and Chat Noir had finished this days patrol route and were now enjoying the sunset, somewhere between the second and the third platform of the Eiffel Tower. Sitting on one of the braces in between meant that they couldn‘t be disturbed by late night tourists or custodians. Ladybug was the first to break the comfortable silence between them.

»Chat, can I ask you a question?«

»You just did«, he said jokingly, but added, »sure, go ahead«, before she could roll her eyes at him. On the contrary, she seemed a little nervous and not at all bugged – huh, now he was even punning in his thoughts. Thoughts that were interrupted when she spoke again.

»Is there someone in your civilian live that you trust without a doubt?«

Taken aback by her solemn and completely unexpected question he took a moment to think. »There is one person. My best friend, so to say…«

»Would you trust him with you live?«

»Yes. Absolutely.«

»Would you trust him with your… identity?«

A chill ran up his spine, and he couldn‘t not stare at his partner. »Where are you getting with this?«, he asked cautiously.

Ladybug sat there, her shoulder slightly slumped, and when she glanced back at him, Chat Noir thought he saw something in her eyes like… guilt?

»It‘s just…«, she took a deep breath, and then said with a clear but quiet voice. »Chat Noir, as the guradian of the Miraculous I hereby allow you to… install a fail safe. You should share your secret with one and only one trusted person, in case something happens to you.«

The wind rustled through his hair, loose blond strands restricting his field of view. »I- I‘m sorry, what?«

»Recently I came to the conclusion, that with Hawk- Shadowmoth becoming stronger, becoming more dangerous… we need help. I know we are partners, but I had to make some decisions as the guardian, and one of them entailed that Rena Rouge now is a permanent holder.«

Chat Noir knew that Ladybug did not have to defend herself and her decisions in front of him, but he heard her out. Even if it hurt to hear that she already shared her secret with a trusted friend. His heart then soared again for his Lady, when she told him he didn’t have to reveal himself to anyone, that she only wished for him to have the opportunity, the permission, because she herself felt so relieved when there was finally someone with whom she could talk.

He bid her goodbye with a kiss on the back of her hand, smiling, reassuring her that he wasn’t mad – he never could be for long anyways. Her sad but genuine smile was more than he could have asked for, because it stayed with him on his way home, accompanied him when he thought - really thought this time, not hypothetically like before – if he wanted to reveal his secret to his most trusted friend. And he found himself to agree with that idea when he vaulted himself through the open window of his room.

»Claws in«, he whispered, and held his hand out to give Plagg a place to land if needed.

»I’m starving«, the black kwami exclaimed, and floated towards his ever so beloved Camembert-cabinet.

»Hey, before you glutton yourself on cheese – what do you think about Ladybugs… idea?«

»She’s the Master, she makes the rules«, Plagg said with a shrug. »If you ask me, it’s time to reveal yourselves to each other, but it would be pretty good for you to have someone to talk to in the first place, right? Other than me that is. So who is it you’re having in mind?«

Adrien smiled softly. »Come on, Plagg. You know who deserves the title of being my best friend. The most loyal, honest person you could ever think of.«

Chapter Text

»‘Hey, Marinette. I need your help with something. Could I come by tomorrow after school to talk about it?’« Alya had reread the short message again. The time stamp clearly stated that Adrien had send this message to Marinette in the middle of the night.

»So, what do you think?«, Marinette inquired, clearly giddy and downright nervous – as she had been the whole morning since she discovered said message only seconds after waking up.

»I don’t know girl«, Alya said nonchalantly. »Maybe he needs help with some homework, maybe he wants to commission something«, she listed. »Maybe he finally opened up his eyes, fell in love with you, and this is going to be a make-out-session.« A sly grin lightened up her face when she saw Marinette blush furiously.

»A-Alya!«

»Oh, come on, I was just kidding«, she tried to calm down her best friend. Though, buttercup was kinda blind. »But I suggest you just wait. It could be something about his home live, his dad… you know, the kind of things he don’t want anyone in school to know? Maybe that’s why he send a message and didn’t ask you in person.«

»Ugh, now I feel bad because I showed you…«

»No biggie, I can keep my mouth shut, as you very well know«, Alya said with a wink and Marinette smiled in return.

Marinette had managed to not stutter the whole way (only most of it) to the bakery when Adrien accompanied her. Her mother couldn’t hide her grin when both teenagers entered through the front door, and Marinette quickly stuttered some more. Something about a group project for school, nothing that didn’t made any sense, as far as she evaluated.

She took a deep, calming breath when they finally had made it into her room, but that backfired when she suddenly realized how Adriens perfume had already begun to fill the tiny space. And she so loved that smell.

Get a grip!, she scolded herself, trying not to smile to broadly, and internally squealing when Adrien sat down on her chaise. Oh, he looked nervous. He even looked a bit flustered, silently tapping his fingers against his thighs. Quite jittery herself she sat down next to him, but with as much of a distance as the piece of furniture offered.

»Marinette«, he blurted out, staring at the hardwood flooring.

Oh god, he wouldn’t, would he? Alya couldn’t be right, could she? This wasn’t- no. Or maybe it was? Marinette hold her breath, her heart filled with so much silly hope. He wasn’t going to confess, was he?!

»Marinette, you’re my best friend.«

Immediate dampner.

»There is something I want to tell you, but you have to swear to never ever tell anybody.«

If this was about another crush he had on a girl and he needed her help dating said girl she would scream. Maybe even slap him…

»I-I won’t tell anybody, Adrien. You know you can trust me.« Well, except for the dozen or so kwamis two and a half meters to her left whom she wouldn’t tell per se… but they had very sharp ears.

»A-and I want you to know that this doesn’t have to change anything between us, and I hope you’re not mad at me-«

Oh. God. No. He didn’t figure out her crush on him, did he?! Was he going to turn her down?!

»I’m Chat Noir.«

Wait… WHAT?!

Chapter Text

»Okay, I know, this is maybe a bit much. I’m sorry if I ever got on your nerves with my late night visits- But you’re my friend and sometimes I think you’re the only one I can talk to. In and out of costume.«

Marinette sat there, stunned, open mouthed and letting Adrien continue his rambling, still having not a clue on what he just did- said. Freaking Chat Noir! And she herself had absolute no idea how to react!

Now Adrien had pulled out Plagg from his jacket, the black kwami grinning like a Cheshire cat, his green eyes glinting with mischief. That little devil knew exactly what was going on!

»This is Plagg, my kwami. You, you know about kwamis right? You were Multimouse after all.«

Marinette closed her mouth with the intention to affirm this, but there was no sound she could muster. Instead she just nodded shakily. Of all the people it had to be him? Of all the people he had to tell her?!

Plagg snickered and said: »Well, hello there, Mas- Marinette. Nice to finally meet you.«

She stared at him, wide eyed. Did he just intended to call her ‘Master’? Oh, hell, she needed to come up with a game plan, and fast! Should she tell Adrien? Should she just stay silent? What was this going to do to their relationship… s. Relationships. Oh dear god. She and him, and Ladybug and him, and Ladybug and Chat- and Chat and her! Marinette groaned, massaging her temples. Her head hurt so, so much.

»Is everything okay?«, Adrien asked meekly, and it pained Marinette to see him so precarious, so denounced in front of her. Suddenly she knew exactly what had to happen. »I-I know it’s a bit much, uh… do you need some time to-?«

»No. Adrien, everything is… Well, it’s a bit much-« He had no idea how much of a disaster this was. And apparently she planned to make it even worse. »First of all, uhm. Thanks for your trust in me. I promise – again – to not tell anybody. Ever. B-But there’s something - two things actually - I need to tell you, too.«

A shimmer of hope lightened up Adriens eyes, his whole posture. »Okay. And if you have any questions-«

»Yeah!«, she exclaimed abruptly. »A-actually I have. Y-You’re in l-l-love with Ladybug?«

His blush spoke for himself. »She’s amazing. She was the one to suggest that we choose one person to reveal ourselves to, to talk to…«

»T-This may come out of nowhere, but I have a crush on you«, she blurted out, and now it was Adriens turn to look stumped.

»Oh. Uhm… Wow«, he stammered, blushing slightly. »I don’t know what to say-«

Plagg floated in front of Marinettes face. »You should have led with the other one«, he announced. »Are we nearly done yet? I’m starving!«

»Plagg!«, a high pitched voice sounded indignantly from behind the bobbin-box. Marinette closed her eyes, silently counting to ten. Tikki was usually a model of self-discipline, and she choose exactly this moment to break her restraint?!

»What was that?«, Adrien asked alertly.

»Uuh…«

»Is that Mullo? Did Ladybug made you a permanent holder, too?«, he pried, curiously excited, forgetting (or at least choosing to forget) her confession seconds before.

And before Marinette could so much as utter a sound, the mouse kwami shot out behind the bobbin-box. »So can we come out now?«, it inquired eagerly.

This isn’t happening, Marinette thought, shaking her head in disbelieve.

»Hey Mullo, nice to meet you«, Adrien said. »Since when are you permanent?«, he then asked Marinette.

She pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. »This is not… Let me…«, she stuttered, and tried to think.

»Just tell him«, Plagg said nonchalantly. »By the way, do you have cheese?«

»Oh, yes, cheese!«, Mullo exclaimed excitedly. »Can I get some, too, Master?«

»M-Master? You made Mullo call you Master?«, Adrien inquired a little taken aback.

»A cheese platter would do, maybe some cheese-pastry?«, Plagg volunteered, completely ignoring the humans – and Tikki who Marinette could now see hovering above her desk, seething with anger directed at her fellow kwamis.

»I would appreciate«, she raised her voice, simultaneously raising to her feet, »each and all kwamis to just go out of earshot, while I try to navigate this train wreck of a conversation.« She pointed towards the bobbin-box, and while Mullo just shrugged and floated away, Plagg sighted heavily. Not to mention at least five different grumbles about how it was so fun to watch humans interact.

With huge eyes Adriens gaze followed Kaalki, Sass, Wayzz and a joyfully squealing Daizzi disappearing into a box on Marinettes desk. And then a red kwami shyly waved at him, waiting for Plagg to join her, just to then follow behind all the others inside the box.

One could have heard a pin drop inside Marinettes bedroom. Adrien simply couldn’t comprehend what exactly had happened here, and just gaped at his friend. Her blue eyes looked uncertain, sad, nervous, and he incidentally noted that she wasn’t wearing a necklace. So when Marinette tentatively sat down next to him again and he seemed to remember how to use words, the first sentence that came out of his mouth was: »You’re not wearing a miraculous.«

Marinette smiled weakly. »Oh, I am. Not the mouse one though.«

»You’re… Ladybug?« His voice turned into a high pitch at the last syllable.

»Yeah. I never thought you would tell me…«

»So, you’re taking back my Miraculous?«

»What? No! No, I won’t. I mean, I thought I wasn’t ready to know who you are or to reveal myself, but… it’s okay. Maybe better than okay?«, she asked gingerly.

She sounded hopeful, and Adrien could feel the relieve wash over him. He would keep Plagg. He now could talk to Marinette, his best friend, outside the mask, they could support each other – without the secrets their teamwork would surely improve – wait. When the realization hit him, both a faint blush and a very Chat-like smirk spread all over his face. »So, you have a crush on me?«, he asked charmingly, and to his delight Marinette instantly went beet red.

»I-I-«

He moved closer to her, fascinated by her slightly parted lips.

»How long were you kitten with me?«, he punned, still smirking, raptured by her response: She shoved at his arm, pouting.

»Since you gave me the umbrella«, she mumbled, a little embarrassed.

»You mean after that photo shoot inside the swimming pool?«

»No, silly. At the end of your first day at school.«

His whole world lightened up. Everything felt warm and fuzzy and absolutely perfect. »So, all this time, whenever I asked you if you have feelings for me«, he scooted even closer, noticing the hitch in her breath, the ongoing blush, »and you said ‘no’… you lied to me?«

Marinette weakly nodded, not far from whimpering because he took her hand in his, was leaning forward, and his scent, his bright green eyes, his lips- all of a sudden she fell as the chaise, not able to deal with the weight being distributed to just one side, toppled over.

She found herself laying on the floor, her whole body neatly embraced by Adriens arms.

Leering at her he looked so much like Chat Noir that there was a split second in which Marinette was wondering were his mask and ears went. And then there was neither room for any thoughts nor between them when Adrien pressed his lips timidly onto hers.

Marinette: Well, Als… you were right.

Alya: Huh? What did he wanted to talk about? Homework?

Marinette: No, nothing about homework. Much kissing, though.

Alya: NO WAY! Girl, call me now!

Marinette: I’m busy! But a, uh, little black kitty told me, that you may get some exclusive footage tonight at the Arc de Triomphe…

Alya: Wait, what?

Alya: No. NOOOO! Are you serious?! Girl, this is huge! I need deets!!!