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Ladybug stood across from her partner, eyes closed. It was the moment of truth. The moment she had been waiting for her entire life. Well, not her entire life, but enough of it, She finally was going to see the face of her partner, her best friend, her soulmate. "Spots off."
"Claws in."
She opened her eyes, to look at the love of her life for the first time, only to see, her ex-boyfriend, Adrien Agreste.
Her ex-boyfriend of... more times than she was willing to admit. Marinette felt a little bit naseous.
Her eyes met his, and he was frowning, like he was disappointed in her.
Typical.
Adrien blinked slowly, "How long have you been Ladybug?"
"The whole time." She almost asked him the same thing, but bit her tongue, and paused for a moment, "I guess you've always been Chat then?"
"Yeah."
"Well, this is awkward."
He smiled at the ground, "Is this a bad time to confess my love for you?"
Marinette snorted, holding back laughter, "I don't think there could be a worse time."
"What?" Adrien looked up at her, and the glassy look in his eyes almost made her want to take him back. Almost.
She crossed her arms, not backing down. "We've broken up like six times, I think we're obviously doing something wrong."
"Yeah, but we've also dated like six times. We must be doing something right." He countered. "I love you. So much, and it's always been you. I was conflicted because I liked you and you, but it's always been you. I love you."
"I love you too, but I don't think we should get back together." Marinette shook her head.
"Why not? The only reason you broke up with me the first time was because you liked Chat-"
"That wasn't the only reason. I had had enough, we hadn't seen eachother in nearly a month, between work and akuma attacks. I wasn't there for you, and you weren't there for me. We both were always late, and lied to eachother constantly. Alya and Nino had to stage an intervention."
"But that was before we knew the whole truth."
"I think we knew enough."
"I still love you!"
"This is exhausting. We said we would never get back together, ever." She shrugged, "and I think we're doing pretty good as friends. I don't want to ruin that."
"That was before I knew that you were you." Adrien got down on one knee, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, will you marry me?"
"What? No!" She shrieked, "Adrien, I literally just told you I don't think we should get back together, why would I marry you?"
He shrugged, putting the ring back in his pocket, "It was worth a shot."
"It really wasn't."
"Please, just give me a second chance." Adrien stood up, "this time, there will be no lying, no secrets. We know everything about eachother now. It'll be perfect."
"I used to think that we were forever," Marinette took a breath, "I would've done anything to get you back-"
"Like date me as Ladybug?"
"You can't judge, you did the exact same thing."
"Yeah." He smiled, "it's like we were made for eachother."
...
(the first time: Adrinette)
Marinette worked up the nerve to finally confess her feelings one day in the library, when Adrien was going on and on about some girl he worked with. This girl was perfect, he claimed, beautiful and brave and kind and Marinette was jealous. She wanted to be this girl. Adrien liked this girl, had told her about his feelings, and was lamenting about how she didn't return his feelings.
Marinette's mouth spoke before her mind caught up to it. "If she doesn't like you, no amount of flowers and flirting will change that. Maybe she just isn't interested."
Adrien frowned, "but we're soulmates. It was love at first sight."
"For you. What does she think?"
"We're friends, but she wants things to be professional between us."
"I know, but I would follow her to the ends of the earth. I would die for her."
"Adrien, that's crazy. You aren't even dating her.
"I mean, it's not that crazy, is it?"
Marinette liked Adrien, but she wasn't willing to die for him. There was a difference between obsession and love, one that she struggled with, but was working on. "Look at like Ladybug and Chat Noir."
"Why?"
"Chat likes Ladybug, but she doesn't feel the same way. There are certain boundaries they have to have as superheroes. If he keeps pushing, she might start pushing back."
"The girl I like," Adrien sighed, "is a lot like Ladybug."
"You deserve better than that. You shouldn't waste your time chasing after someone who doesn't even see you running. You should find someone who can meet you halfway." Marinette stared at the ground, "I need to find someone who will meet me halfway."
"I'd meet you halfway."
it was so soft that she almost didn't hear it. But she did. Marinette looked up at Adrien, who's eyes were peering into her soul. "What?"
"I said," his voice trembled, "I'd meet you halfway. I think. If you'd like that."
"Adrien," she grinned, "I'd love that."
He grinned back at her, "Marinette, have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"
She blushed, "Between us, I'm not the model."
When Marinette dated Adrien, it was a lot like their friendship, except with more kissing, and a lot of flirting. They still hung out with Alya and Nino a lot, went on double dates. Adrien ended up spending a lot of time at Marinette's house, whether that was playing videogames or baking or just hanging out.
It was nice. And they were happy.
But Adrien wasn't over the other girl.
He was the one who broke things off. One night, in the middle of a round of Ultimate Mecha Strike, he paused the game, and gave her a look. It was a look of pity and regret, a face she had never seen him make. And she had no way of knowing what he was about to say.
"I'm sorry Marinette, but this isn't fair to you. We need to end things between us. I don't want to hurt you."
For a moment she was too stunned to speak. "You're breaking up with me? Of course it's going to hurt."
"I like you, you're amazing."
"Then why?"
"It's not you, it's me."
Marinette rolled her eyes, "Of course it is. Typical-"
"I still like her." There were tears in Adrien's eyes. "I like you, but I can't stop thinking about her. I don't think I ever will."
Of course it was her. Adrien's magical mystery dream girl. Marinette wasn't even convinced that she was real. Adrien wouldn't even say her name. "Adrien, you're obsessed. I mean, you barely know this girl and yet-"
"We talk almost every day." He shook his head, "I know her, and I know that she's the one for me."
A little piece of Marinette's heart cracked. "You've been talking to this other girl every day?"
"Not like that!" Adrien gulped, "Maybe a little bit like that. You know how I am when I start flirting."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was nothing to her. It didn't matter." Adrien shrugged, "It's my job. I thought that I would get over her."
"It was something to you, clearly. Of course it mattered. Your feelings matter Adrien."
"I know, and so do yours. I have to let you go. I can't keep stringing you along while I wait for her."
The crack grew, shattering Marinette's heart into a million fragments, "You never really loved me, did you?"
"I liked you. I could see myself loving you. I really care about you. I think I started to-"
"You didn't love me." She repeated. "Not like how you love her. I was just your rebound."
"You knew that going into it." Adrien protested, "I said that I could meet you halfway, and I did. I hope that we can remain friends."
"It wasn't halfway for me." Marinette felt her eyes start to tear up, "I dove headfirst because I love you Adrien."
He didn't meet her eyes.
...
(Take two: Marichat)
Marinette had never imagined dating Chat Noir, especially not as herself. Maybe as Ladybug, but never as a civilian. And yet, that is exactly what happened.
One night she was knitting on her balcony, and Chat Noir stopped by. He was sad and in need of an ear to lean on and she was more than happy to listen, provided he did the same for her. She brought up pastries and they got to talking, and it was really nice.
Chat started stopping by on a regular, nightly basis. She invited him into her room.
Turns out, Chat Noir was a really good kisser. And very romantic. They watched the sun set together, and he told her that she was more beautiful than the stars. Marinette had never felt as loved as she did when she was with Chat Noir.
There was the flirting, there was the flowers, there was the charm. Chat Noir was very suave, very smooth, but underneath it all was a scared little boy who wanted to be loved. He was insecure, and he was human. The flirting, the puns, were humor as a defense mechanism. Ladybug couldn't see through his mask, couldn't break down his walls, but Marinette could.
She could be the friend he needed, the shoulder to cry on.
And Marinette loved him.
but it didn't hurt that he was a good kisser.
...
(Third time's the charm: Adrinette)
Since the breakup, Marinette and Adrien were friends, but they weren't close. There was an air of discomfort, an awkward energy between the two of them. Adrien refused to meet her eyes, and Marinette didn't want to think about him.
In fact, she was doing great at her mission of getting over Adrien Agreste. She was dating Chat Noir, they were happy together, and everything was going great. Sure she missed game nights with Adrien, but he was the one who broke up with her, not the other way around. She wasn't going to mourn a relationship where he had never felt the same way.
Until, of course, he had to go and mess with her plans, "I can't stop thinking about you."
She was happy, she was over him. "Well, stop."
"Marinette, they say you don't appreciate what you have until it's too late. I didn't appreciate you, and I'm sorry."
She gave him a gentle smile, "Thanks for the apology, Adrien, but there's someone else."
"You're the right person for me. I know it."
"This isn't the right time for us."
" I think we're soulmates."
Marinette frowned. "What are you saying?"
"Marinette," he breathed, "I love you."
There it was. The 'L' word. He had never said that to her when they were dating. It was a point of contention during their breakup. She declared her love frequently, he never had. Until now.
She wasn't over him.
Without thinking, she kissed him on the cheek. He turned his head, and his lips met hers.
Later that evening, Chat Noir broke up with her, for "Superhero Reasons" that he refused to explain further.
She and Adrien got back together within the week.
Not long after, they broke up, because she was too flaky. She kept missing dates, and showing up late without an explanation. Adrien deserved a girlfriend who was as commited as he was, or at least one who had valid excuses. Marinette broke up with him that time. She then gave it two days before stopping by his window as Ladybug.
...
(Four: Ladrien)
The benefit to dating Adrien as Ladybug was that he didn't care when she was late. She could complain about fighting akumas. He was attentive and caring and worried about her.
The downside was that they were both busy. All of the time. There was never opportunity to actually go out on dates and be together. Ladybug had hoped that it would be like how Chat was with Marinette, but she had been fooling herself. She wasn't Chat, and Adrien wasn't Marinette. They didn't have enough freetime to explore the rooftops of Paris together. Adrien had a strict schedule, she couldn't drag him out to watch the sunset.
The most they could do was hang out in his room. They played games, watched movies, and cuddled, but it was still a secret relationship.
Adrien was happier than she'd ever seen him. Happier than he'd ever been with Marinette. And she... wasn't.
She had been happier with Chat Noir. She had been more carefree, more herself.
She was jealous of herself, which was a little ridiculous.
Ladybug broke up with Adrien, giving him the same bullshit "superhero" excuse that Chat had given her.
...
Ladybug loved Chat Noir. It wasn't much of a realization, given their history, but still, she was sure. Between dating him as Ladybug and Marinette and Marino, it was a miracle he hadn't figured her out already. The next time she saw him, she was going to reveal her identity.
Finally, Ladybug stood across from her partner, eyes closed. It was the moment of truth. The moment she had been waiting for her entire life. Well, not her entire life, but enough of it, She finally was going to see the face of her partner, her best friend, her soulmate. "Spots off."