Archive of Our Own

“Is it weird to not have had your first kiss yet?” asked Zoe, blushing.

Adrien sighed, leaning back on the picnic blanket to remove himself from the conversation. Of course. Being teens, it was only a matter of time before an innocent conversation over lunch turned into Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever, or comparing hand sizes. What was with his friends these days? Did everything have to be flirty?

“Uh, yeah,” said Kim, in an obvious tone. “I had mine when I was 12 with a girl from summer camp. She was super hot,” he added to Max on the side.

“What? No way!” said Alya, shocked. “I waited to have mine with someone that I was in a relationship with.” She nudged shoulders with Nino. “That way, it was special.”

Kisses should be special, Adrien thought, pulling up grass. People talked about it like it was nothing, like it was something to get out of the way. It made him feel… weird. He certainly didn’t want his first kiss to be like that. His first real kiss, anyway.

“Don’t worry Zoe, 16 is still very young to have had a first kiss,” Marinette reassured her. “It will happen naturally, when the time is right. Just wait and see.”

Adrien pursed his lips to keep from smiling, still pretending not to listen to the conversation. Marinette always had the right thing to say.

“You’re just saying that cause you haven’t kissed anyone,” Kim said mockingly to Marinette. Adrien’s head snapped up, and Marinette’s face flushed red. He opened his mouth angrily, ready to tell off Kim, but Alya got there first.

“What are you talking about? Of course she has!” Alya retorted. Adrien’s stomach dropped. She had? That wasn’t surprising, all things considered, but… he had never thought of Marinette kissing anyone before. His chest constricted as he stared at Marinette, watching her face change from embarrassment to fear at Alya’s words.

Marinette quickly turned towards Alya. “No, I haven’t!” she denied, strain creeping up in her voice.

“Yes, remember, you kissed Chat Noi-- umph!” Alya’s sentence was cut off by Marinette clapping her hand over her mouth.

“Alya!” she hissed.

“Woah, Marinette kissed Chat Noir?” asked Alix, dumbfounded. Almost as dumbfounded as Adrien felt.

“Was it recently?” asked Max.

“Was it during an akuma attack?” asked Juleka.

“Was it romantic?” asked Rose.

Wait, what? Chat Noir had never kissed Marinette. Granted, he had met her parents before, and spent a day practicing her declarations of love, but no kissing ever took place. Was Marinette spreading lies about their date?

“You guys are punks, she’s clearly lying,” said Kim matter-of-factly. “Aren’t you, Marinette?”

All eyes turned to the girl, who went impossibly redder.

“Of course we never kissed!” Marinette shrieked, her voice three pitches higher than usual. “Not really! I mean, it wasn’t like an actual… I was just… I don’t…I cant… ugh, Alya,” Marinette said, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Alix let out a whoop.

“She can’t lie! It definitely happened!”

“Why didn’t she tell us?” asked Juleka, her eyebrows knitting in confusion.

“Obviously, the identities and personal lives of Chat Noir and Ladybug must remain secret,” Max said, spitting facts.

“A secret love! Oh, how tragically romantic,” Rose swooned.

“No! There’s no secret love!” Marinette spluttered. “We just… I mean, I… it was --”

“She’s getting redder and redder,” Alix declared gleefully.

“We need details, Marinette!” Zoe squealed.

Marinette was saved by Alya’s alarm, giving them the five minute warning before class. Everyone packed up the picnic they had brought to the park, shooting glances at Marinette where she sat, immobile, head in her hands. The group traded theories on the kiss as they walked back to the school, Alix insisting it was during an epic battle sequence, Rose weaving a tale about a boat ride on the Seine at dawn. Adrien packed his bag slowly, trailing behind Alya and Marinette as they made their way back to class.

“I’m so sorry girl, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Alya said to Marinette, putting her hand on her back. They both dragged behind the others, Marinette slouched over, her arms crossed over her stomach.

“I know you didn’t mean to,” Marinette replied miserably. Adrien quickened his pace to be able to hear her quiet words. “I’m just afraid this will get back to Chat Noir now.”

“Oh,” Alya said, realization dawning. “Don’t worry girl, this will blow over by the end of the day. I promise.”

But as it turns out, a secret kiss with Paris’ famous superhero doesn’t just “blow over”. The next few days were filled with jokes, teasing, and jabs at Marinette’s supposed romance with Chat Noir.

“Marinette, I can’t reach the top shelf, could you call Chat Noir to jump up and get it for me?” asked Alix, a glimmer in her eye.

“Marinette, I saw a butterfly and now I’m scared, will you get your hunky boyfriend to rescue me?” Kim said mockingly.

“When you kissed Chat Noir, were you wearing a pink flowy dress, or a yellow flowy dress?” Rose demanded.

“Ridiculous, utterly ree-diculous. There’s no way Dupain-Cheng got kissed by a superhero. If anyone should be kissed by a superhero, it should be ME. Preferably by Ladybug.”

“I can’t take it anymore,” Adrien heard Marinette groan to Alya in the library. Adrien quickly looked down at his textbook, pretending not to listen to their conversation between the stacks. “The more I say, the worse it gets! It’s only a matter of time before Chat finds out, and then what?”

“Maybe he’ll just be angry you spread a rumour about him,” Alya suggested, as if it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

“Then he’ll think I’m some crazy fangirl,” Marinette grumbled. “Even more than he already does.”

Adrien turned back to his notes, frowning slightly. He didn’t think Marinette was a crazy fangirl; just a person who has a crush on a famous superhero. He couldn’t say anything, given he was in the same boat. But she’s certainly not the type to lie, or spread rumours. She must have had a good reason for telling Alya they kissed. But why?

He pondered this all day. Then he decided, it didn’t matter why. He trusted Marinette, and if she wanted to kiss Chat Noir, then so be it.

__________________

Marinette quickened her pace. She was going to be late for school, again. She wished, not for the first time, that she could keep her yoyo in her daily life, for emergencies such as these.

“Hey, Princess!” she heard a call. She looked up, to see Chat Noir perched on the ledge of a roof. He hopped down, landing in front of her and straightening up quickly. He offered a hand. “Need a lift to school?” he asked.

Marinette narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “What are you doing here? Is there an akuma?”

“Nope, just me, off duty, looking to help out a friend,” Chat said airily.

Marinette’s heart clenched. Oh no. He must have heard the rumour. It had spread like a wildfire for a whole week, and now he’s here to confront her about her lying, scheming ways. But… why didn’t he look angry? He looked like his normal, smirky self. What is going on?

He mustn’t have heard the rumour. There’s no way he would be so nonchalant if he knew what she’d done. In that case, it couldn’t hurt to let him take her to school... she was late, after all. His grin widened as she tentatively placed her hand in his, clutching her backpack with her other hand. She squeaked as he pulled her in close and threw her a wink before extending his staff towards the rooftops and vaulting them upwards.

The colours of Paris passed in a confusing, superspeed blur. Marinette hid her head in his shoulder to keep from vomiting. Speed and agility were much more fun when she was in control. She tightened her arms around his neck as they lurched from rooftop to rooftop. She realized, a little too late, that if anyone from school saw her in this position, it would do nothing to stop the rumours.

“Don’t you have school too, Chat?” she asked, muffled by his suit.

“Don’t worry about me, Princess. I’ve got an important mission to take care of first,” he replied cryptically.

Marinette stayed silent, her heart pounding. What could he possibly be up to? It couldn’t have anything to do with the Miraculous, or Hawkmoth, he would have contacted Ladybug for that. It had to be the rumour. But why hasn’t he said anything yet?

He set her down gently on the roof of Francois Dupont high school. “We have arrived!” Chat declared, letting her legs down. Marinette reluctantly released her arms from around his neck, confused.

“Uh, Chat, I kind of need to be on ground level,” she clarified. “Can you just drop me in the alley there?”

“Not quite yet, Princess,” Chat said, his mischievous grin taking over his face. “I’ve got a mission to complete.”

He walked towards her, his body towering over her as he stopped just inches away. He cupped her face in both hands, leaned down and kissed her.

Marinette’s heart stopped. The world grinded to a halt. She could see Chat’s face right in front of hers, his tan jaw inches away, his blonde eyelashes fluttering lightly against his mask. Chat Noir was kissing her. Marinette let her eyes slide shut, her hand going up to grab the wrist of one of the hands on her cheek. With her eyes closed she could feel everything, the gentle slide of his lips against hers, his stubble scratching at her chin, his gloved hands tightening slightly as they slid up into her hair. She smelled fresh breeze and clean linen and the light mint of his toothpaste. She swayed in closer, wondering how she hadn’t realized how tall he was, or how broad his shoulders had gotten, or that she could fit in perfectly under his chin if she wanted.

Chat broke away gently, bringing his head back a couple inches to search her eyes. Marinette stared up at him in a hazy shock. Her hand was still clutching his wrist, unsure if she wanted to throw him off or keep him close. Whatever he saw in her eyes, it pleased him, and he nodded as a slight, satisfied smile came over his face.

“There,” he whispered. “Now it’s not a rumour anymore.”

Marinette felt her mouth drop open as Chat Noir backed up, not breaking eye contact, his grin growing as he shot her a salute and propelled himself off the roof. Marinette stared at the spot he had just been, wondering what the hell just happened, and how the hell she was going to get off the damn roof.

__________________

Adrien walked into the classroom, feeling self-satisfied. There. Now everything was sorted; Marinette had her first kiss with Chat Noir, just like she had said. She no longer had to feel guilty about lying, and she could go back to being happy Marinette again.

And, he had gotten to kiss Marinette. He felt a thrill run through him just thinking about it. It had been so good, so wonderful, so right. He had never even thought about kissing Marinette until the picnic, when Alya had first mentioned their kiss. The thought of Marinette kissing anyone had made his stomach queasy; the thought of it being Chat Noir made him feel happy again. Yes, all was right in the world. Now the trouble seemed to be… how to stop thinking about kissing Marinette.

He pretended not to watch her walk into class, or notice how her ears were distinctly pink. She shuffled past him and slid into her seat, where a storm of whispering started between her and Alya. He smiled down at his homework. Maybe all this kissing business wasn’t so bad after all.

________________

The Paris sun was setting, leaving the sky awash in shades of pink. Chat leaned contentedly against a chimney and watched as people stroll down the cobblestone streets, beams of waning sunlight reflecting off the shop windows, the gentle breeze carrying voices through the air. The world was beautiful, calm, serene.

Then, Ladybug dropped on the roof next to him. And the night shattered.

“So, you’re going around kissing civilians now?” she demanded. Her hands were on her hips, her eyes narrowed at him. She meant business.

Chat sighed, the glow of happiness he’d had since the morning dimming slightly. “How did you hear about that?” he asked, tiredly.

“Everyone knows,” she said dismissively.

“Look,” Chat started. “It was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She started a rumour that we had kissed, but we never did. You know Marinette, she usually doesn’t lie, so I thought I’d help her out. It was a one time thing,” he finished with a shrug, shielding his eyes to look out over Paris.

“Did you ever think,” Ladybug stressed. “That maybe, she didn’t need your help?”

Chat paused, turning his head to look at her. “What?”

“Maybe, you just made things more complicated!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. Her blue eyes were wild, looking everywhere but at him. “Maybe, you shouldn’t have stuck your nose in where it didn’t belong! Maybe you should have let her deal with the consequences of her actions!”

“Ladybug, what -- “

“She had the situation under control! She was just fine before you came along! But no! You couldn’t stand another damsel in distress, you just had to go save her -- “

“That’s not fair -- “ Chat protested.

“But you messed up this time, because kissing her just made it worse, and nothing makes sense anymore, and everything would have been fine if you just left me alone!”

“I didn’t know -- wait.” Ladybug’s mouth shut quickly, her eyes widening as Chat stared at her. “Left who alone?”

“Left Marinette alone,” Ladybug said quickly. “That’s what I said.”

“No,” Chat said slowly. “You said left me alone.”

Ladybug’s face paled under the mask, her body very, very still. She wasn’t breathing. Chat was tottering on the edge of a cliff.

“That’s what you said.” Chat repeated, more validating it to himself than to her. Ladybug just stood there, her mouth opening and closing, but no denial was coming out.

“You said me, meaning Marinette. Meaning you are Marinette,” Chat repeated. He was staring at her, but he wasn’t seeing her, his mind reeling through a million memories, a million moments, all of them lining up perfectly with this very simple truth.

Ladybug choked out a protest, a denial, but he could hardly hear her over the rushing of blood in his brain. Ladybug and Marinette. Marinette and Ladybug. A grin spread across his face as the words repeated themselves over and over again. It had to be true. Nothing made more sense.

He laughed in disbelief, excitement thrumming through his core. It was all so much, too much, and he was struggling putting the timeline together in his mind.

“So Marinette wasn’t lying when she said she kissed me…” Chat said, mostly to himself, trying to sort out the million pieces of information flying around in his head. “Because Ladybug has kissed me before. That makes sense. But how did Alya know… does she know you’re Ladybug? She must be the one you told your identity to! But I still don’t get it…”

Ladybug’s eyes were widening in realization, that everything was coming fast, too fast, and she had no time to try to deny everything, because it was lining up so perfectly.

“We have already kissed before… ” Chat said, still thinking out loud. “So then… why are you so angry that I kissed you today?”

“Chat, stop. This is crazy,” Ladybug interrupted. But her voice was higher than usual, and shaking slightly, and he could hear Marinette in every syllable, could see her in Ladybug’s stance, could feel who was truly in front of him. It was truer than true, realer than real, an absolute perfection in the chaotic design of the world.

“Why would me kissing you make you angry?” he continued, determined to find the missing piece. “Especially when everyone already believes we kissed. It wouldn’t change anything.”

He took a step towards her, and felt how her body tensed, coiled and ready to run, like a frightened animal. As he got closer he realized her face wasn’t pale anymore; it was getting red, red, redder, flushing up her neck.

Why was she so mad?

It hit him like a ton of bricks.

“You liked it,” he said, disbelievingly.

He was rewarded by a choking sound, and the blush spreading up to her ears. “I-- I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said weakly.

“You’re not mad at me, you’re mad at yourself,” Chat said, staring at her in disbelief. “Because you liked it.”

“I… I am not Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Ladybug said, but her voice had no conviction in it.

“Oh, Bug, we’re way past that. Don’t even try,” he said dismissively. He shot her a grin that was half-cheeky, half pure glee. “So, you’re mad that my supreme kissing skills are making you question your feelings towards me.”

“Chat, I am not Marinette! This is crazy!” Ladybug reiterated, more strongly, stamping her foot in emphasis.

“Oh that’s right,” Chat snapped his fingers. “This is about the other boy. You’re questioning your feelings for him , because you liked kissing me .”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Ladybug threw her hands angrily in the air. “You are making up stories!”

“Then tell me why you’re mad,” Chat said, giving her one last chance. “Tell me why you’re blushing, and shaking, and angry that I did something that everyone already believed I had done. Tell me why you’re mad today , when the rumour had been going around for days before this.”

Ladybug stared at him, panic in her eyes. Her mouth opened, and nothing came out. Chat walked towards her and she walked instinctively backwards, until her back was pressed up against the chimney. He placed a hand on the wall beside her head, ducking his head to look down at her.

“Who’s the other boy?” he asked softly.

She shut her lips tight and shook her head.

“That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.” Chat leaned back, unsatisfied with the answer but knowing he shouldn’t push his luck. Just as that thought entered his head, he had a genius idea.

“You know what would solve your confusion though?”

Ladybug narrowed her eyes, sensing the mischief in his voice.

“We should kiss again,” he declared matter-of-factly. “To determine if you really have feelings for me.”

Frankly, Chat Noir was not keeping up with his train of thought, he just knew he really, really wanted to kiss her again. Especially now he knew Marinette was under the mask. Ladybug and Marinette, Marinette and Ladybug. Two perfectly kissable girls, all wrapped up into one perfect person. He would do anything.

Ladybug’s eyes were narrowed, her lips still pursed together, as if opening them would cause the rest of her secrets to come tumbling out. Her eyes were shifting, over his shoulders, on his bell, in his hair, before finally resting on his eyes. Whatever she saw in his eyes – joy, victory, raw determination – made her shoulders sag in defeat.

She’s not going to deny her identity anymore. he thought gleefully. Finally, finally, finally. Who knew a kiss would get her so flustered she’d mistakenly reveal her identity? Oh, he should have tried this ages ago.

“Okay,” she said finally.

Chat’s heart stopped, his train of thought screeching to a halt. “Okay?” he asked, confused. He was half joking when he made the offer, light teasing, like they always did. Okay? She would let him kiss her again?

“Don’t make me say it again, Chat,” Ladybug warned. “Just… get on with it.”

She looked up at him, her chin tilted up in a challenge. Her mouth was a hard line, her eyes lit in determination. Oh. She was too easy to read. She was going to prove to herself that she didn’t have feelings for him, by forcing herself to not enjoy the kiss. That wouldn't do at all.

“Okay,” Chat said softly. He wasn’t going to give into her little challenge; if they were going to do this, they would do it his way.

He pushed back off the wall to stand tall in front of her. Gently, he raised a hand to her face, cupping her cheek, and moved closer. He could feel her suck in a breath. He allowed his hand to follow the curve of her face into her hair, much like it had just that morning. This time, he reached up and carefully undid her pigtails, one by one. He felt focused, concentrated. He was surprised at how easily the ties came out of her hair; he half expected them to be magically held in place, like their masks. Her hair fell gently around her shoulders, and he smoothed it down with his hands.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“Shhh,” Chat whispered. “Let me do my moves.”

“You don’t have any moves,” Ladybug protested weakly. But that wasn’t true, because her expression was already opening up, her eyes wide and her breaths quick as she stared up at him.

Pigtails released, he let his hands glide up into her hair, behind her ears. He wished so badly his hands were bare. Her face cupped perfectly in his hands, her cheeks red and warm, and he leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. He held her face as he kissed more firmly, reveling in her soft lips and sweet mouth. He felt her hands come up as he deepened the kiss, seemingly confused of where to go, before settling on his chest, over his heart. He concentrated, swiping his tongue over her lip and grabbing her hair lightly, making her gasp. He let one of his hands fall down to her waist, bringing her in closer to him, allowing their bodies to press against each other. He could feel her beating heart, just as fast and furious as his own. She relaxed into him, letting herself be pulled closer, gripping Chat’s shoulder in return.

They broke apart. She was panting slightly, looking up at him with an expression he’d never seen before. It was so vulnerable, so raw. He knew instantly that if he wanted to kiss her again, he could. She liked it, he thought, dazed. They stared at each other for a moment, still pressed together, their laboring breaths in unison.

“Still confused?” he asked, his voice rougher than expected. She nodded, her eyes hazy. He was gripped by the urge to pull her back in, to drown her in kisses until the sun went down. But he didn’t push it; she was still in the early stages of liking him. He loosened his grip on her, stepping back slightly, allowing for some space. Her hand fell away slowly from his shoulder, falling uselessly at her side.

Chat cleared his throat, trying desperately to regain his composure despite the fact that he had kissed Ladybug, twice, and she liked it.

Focus. Normal conversation. What had they been talking about before? “Which boy is so exceptional to make you so confused?” Chat mused playfully.

Ladybug’s expression cleared. “Drop it, Chat,” she said flatly, crossing her arms. She was closing off again; that wasn’t good. He needed a joke, something to lighten the mood, get her to smile and laugh again. What could he say about the boys in Marinette’s life?

“As long as I’m not competing against famous supermodel Adrien Agreste, I’m good,” Chat joked. He expected to hear a scoff, a laugh, maybe an eye-roll. He got none of that. Instead, he got a gasp.

He looked down to see Ladybug with a deer-in-the headlights look in her eye. “Oh my god, it’s Adrien Agreste,” Chat said disbelievingly. Once again, Ladybug’s silence was answer enough.

Shocked laughter fell out of Chat’s mouth as he stared at her, Ladybug, Marinette, who had been in love with Adrien this whole time. “Oh my god, my competition is Adrien Agreste?” he repeated, with an edge of desperation.

“It’s not funny, Chat!” Ladybug complained, a blush running down her neck as she turned away.

Chat looked up at the sky, thanking the universe, God, a creator, anyone, for this miracle. Glorious happiness bubbled up within him; he had succeeded in making Ladybug fall in love with him, he just didn’t know it.

“You have a crush on Adrien Agreste,” Chat repeated, as if the information would disappear if he didn’t keep saying it. “But you also like kissing me.”

“I’m glad this is all so fascinating to you, Chat,” Ladybug said scathingly.

“I’m just trying to help!” Chat protested. “This is a very difficult conundrum.”

“I don’t need your help. Anyway, Adrien doesn’t like me that way.”

“You sure about that?” Chat asked, almost hysterical.

Ladybug just glared at him in response, muttering something about getting to the patrol, but he couldn’t let her finish, because his third genius idea of the day popped into his head.

“You know what you need to do…” Chat said slowly, a smile overtaking his face. “You need to kiss Adrien.”

“WHAT?” Ladybug whirled around to face him. “Are you insane?”

“Think about it,” Chat urged. “Otherwise, how will you know who you like better?”

“Plenty of ways!” Ladybug exclaimed. “And unlike you, Chat, I don’t kidnap people and kiss them out of the blue.”

“It doesn’t need to be out of nowhere,” Chat qualified. “Adrien’s a nice guy – just tell him you need his help. For an experiment, or something.”

Ladybug stared at him, as if he’d grown a second head. “Chat, there is, quite literally, no way in hell I ask Adrien Agreste to participate in a kissing experiment.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Honestly, you’d think you were trying to implode my chances with Adrien so I’ll come running back to you.”

“I am offended you’d think of me so lowly,” Chat said, still grinning despite her simmering anger. “Your happiness is all I care about, My Lady.”

Ladybug pinched her nose and looked up at the sky, as if fending off a headache. She took a deep breath, evidently trying to calm herself.

“We are not talking about this anymore,” she said sternly, frustration and anger lacing through her words. “Not about identities, or crushes, or kissing. We are PATROLLING, then we are GOING HOME. Understood?”

She looked at him, murder in her eyes, but no amount of anger could erase what he had learned, or take the blush away from her cheeks. Chat grinned at her.

“Understood, my lady. Lead the way.”

__________________

It had been three, long, god-awful days since the explosion of the universe. Three days of painful patrols and awkward akumas, of blushing and glaring and stuttering and silence. Three days of torment in Marinette’s own mind, a whirlwind of unbidden thoughts and emotions, clouding her judgment and keeping her up at night. Three days of pros and cons, of what if’s, of seeing one face in her mind and having it morph into another. After the fourth sleepless night, Marinette had torn down the posters of Adrien next to her bed, unable to process the combination of adoration, guilt and shame.

Marinette slammed her school locker door shut. A kissing experiment. When she’d first heard it, she’d nearly laughed out loud. It was ridiculous, outlandish and flat out inappropriate. But the more days went on, the more appealing the option was… cold, hard answers, sitting just feet away from her in class. If she could just get her lips on his, just for a couple seconds, she would know for sure. She’d be able to put all this business behind her.

Her eyes zeroed in on the back of Adrien’s head. He was talking to Nino at his locker, the sunlight reflecting off his stupid, golden locks, his head tilted back as he laughed freely.

“I’m gonna do it,” she whispered, determined.

“Do what?” Alya asked absently, closing her locker.

“The experiment.”

Alya’s eyes widened as she looked over at her in shock. “The kissing experiment?”

Marinette quickly shushed her, looking around to make sure they hadn’t attracted suspicion.

“Marinette, are you crazy?” Alya whispered, concerned. “I’m all for going for it with Adrien, but this seems a little… sudden. Maybe you should talk to him first? Ask him on a date?”

“I need to know now, Alya,” Marinette said pleadingly. “I can’t go on like this. It has to be today.”

“Okay,” Alya said doubtfully. “I’m proud of you, girl. Let me know how it goes.”

With Alya’s blessing, Marinette spun on her heel, walking straight towards the man of her nightmares.

“Adrien!” Marinette said, louder than she’d meant to. Adrien turned his head, surprised, his sentence cut off. “Can I talk to you?” she asked, trying to control her voice.

Adrien stared at her for a moment, and she could have sworn she saw a light blush rise to his cheeks. Then he nodded. “Sure, Marinette.”

He waved at Nino as a goodbye, and followed Marinette to the back corner of the locker room.

“What’s up?” Adrien asked, standing in front of her.

Marinette took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “I need to ask you a favour.”

“Anything,” Adrien said genuinely. Marinette looked up to see him staring right at her, his eyes wide. He looked very receptive, almost like he knew she was struggling with her words.

“Okay,” Marinette took a deep breath, staring down at her shoes. “I was wondering if… if you would be willing to kiss me. As part of an experiment.” Marinette braced herself for laughter, anger, silence, questions.

“Sure,” said Adrien.

Marinette peeked up at him with one eye. “...what?”

“Yes. I’ll kiss you. Anything for you, Marinette.”

“Oh.” Well. That went easier than expected. She didn’t even have to explain anything about her fake experiment. He was looking at her, expectantly, his beautiful blonde hair flopping slightly in his eye. Oh no. Now she had to kiss Adrien Agreste. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. She stared up at him in shock, her face getting hotter and hotter as he took a step towards her. She immediately took a step back, her back hitting the lockers behind her.

“It’s okay,” Adrien said, almost soothingly.

“I know it’s okay,” Marinette said immediately, concerned at how quickly the power seemed to have shifted in this conversation.

“Right,” Adrien said awkwardly. “Uh, so... do you want me to do it now?”

“Um, yes,” Marinette said, praying her voice wasn’t shaking. “Now would be preferred.”

Adrien took another small step forward, and Marinette forced herself to stand her ground. Her heart raced as his green eyes got closer, her breath frozen in her chest as he stopped just inches away from her. A hand came up to her cheek, cupping her face gently and tilting it up. He leaned in slowly, giving her plenty of time to back away, and her eyes fluttered shut, overwhelmed by his closeness. His lips touched hers, gently, but tense, as if he was holding back. Their lips pressed together for a brief, beautiful moment, before he began to pull back. Marinette’s hands came up to bunch in the lapels of his shirt, pulling him back in, not willing to let her first kiss with Adrien be so chaste.

Adrien let out a small, helpless noise, bringing a hand to her hip and pulling her closer. His lips softened as he deepened the kiss, his hair tickling her cheek, his hand clenching lightly around her side, and it felt so good, so right, so… familiar.

Marinette gasped as she pulled away, her head hitting the wall behind her. Adrien immediately let her go, stepping back to give her space. Marinette stared at him, unwilling to believe her own eyes, her own senses, but there’s no denying the truth once it hit her in the face.

“You, you,” Marinette stuttered, her hand going to the back of her head to where it had hit the wall. “You --”

Adrien put his hands up in surrender. “Marinette, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know --”

“NO! Wait,” Marinette held up her hand, squeezing her eyes shut, as if it could stop reality from hitting her like a landslide. Her chest was constricted, her head spinning, the world around her in a haze.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, putting her head in her hands. “Oh my god oh my god oh my god.”

Adrien is Chat. Chat is Adrien. The events of the past four days passed before her eyes at a sickening speed, the newfound reality tainting every memory. Adrien heard Alya say Marinette kissed Chat Noir. Adrien kissed her, Marinette, as Chat Noir. He knows she’s Ladybug. He knows about her crush – oh my god, Chat must have been so smug – and convinced her to kiss him again. Twice.

Marinette looked up, ready to lay into Adrien for tricking her, for demanding so much information from her, for confusing her. But then she saw him. Adrien’s head hung as he stared at his feet, his neck tinged with red, his shoulders hunched. His hair, messier now than when she’d pulled him into the corner of the locker room, flopped over his eye as he stared at his feet. The same hair she’d had her hands in a few seconds ago. The same hair on the same boy, her partner, her crush, her best friend. Who looked miserable right now, like he was about to get scolded.

Marinette sighed inwardly, her anger fading. In the end, she had gotten mad at him for kissing her, accidentally revealing her identity. And she was the one who had taken him up on the kissing experiment. It was all a big mess, but it wasn’t all his fault.

“Adrien?” she said tentatively. His head snapped up.

“Are -- are you mad?” Adrien asked timidly. “Because I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know if I should --”

“I’m not mad,” she reassured him. Then, she reconsidered. “Actually, I’m a little mad. I can’t believe you asked me if I had a crush on Adrien as soon as you found out my identity!”

Relief softened his features as he realized she wouldn’t yell at him. “That was actually supposed to be a joke,” Adrien said, ashamed. “A bad one, granted, but I truly didn’t think you had a crush on me.”

“Well, you also tricked me into kissing you, three times total,” Marinette stressed, ignoring the part where she had desperately wanted to kiss both of them.

A smile tugged at the side of his mouth. “Okay, the first time was my fault. The second time was both of us. But this last time was all you.”

“You suggested the experiment!” she protested.

“I didn’t think you’d take me seriously,” Adrien admitted. “I just wanted to give you the courage to ask me out.”

“Oh,” Marinette said, a blush rising in her cheeks. “Really?”

“Yes, Marinette,” Adrien said emphatically. “I would love to go out with you. As long as you’re okay with me being… you know who.”

“I…” Marinette stuttered, unable to put her thoughts together. “I think I need time to process.”

“Okay,” Adrien said, understandingly. “Take as much time as you need. Maybe I could, uh, walk you home?”

He leaned an arm on the wall beside her head, looking down at her with a crooked smile. And she tried to think, but she had a hard time thinking about anything at all, because he looked so Chat, but also so Adrien, with his sparkling green eyes, his hair messed up from her hands, his cheeks flushed as he looked down at her. The two people she loved were one person. And suddenly, nothing made more sense.

“Okay, I’m done processing,” Marinette said. She grabbed Adrien by the front of his shirt and pulled him back in, kissing him the way she’d wanted to kiss both him and Chat for the past few days. His hands flattened against her back, keeping her close as her hands slid back into his hair.

A locker door slammed shut. They jumped back quickly, turning to see Alix staring at them, looking just as shocked as they were.

“I’M TELLING CHAT NOIIIIIIR!” she yelled, turning around and sprinting out of the locker room. Adrien grinned down at her.

“She won’t find him,” he whispered, leaning down to catch her lips with his.

__________________

“So how’s it been dating the love of your life for a whole week? Is it everything you dreamed?” Alya asked teasingly.

Marinette rolled her eyes at her cheesiness, but she couldn’t stifle the smile that seemed to be permanently on her face. “Yes, Alya, it’s everything and more,” Marinette replied playfully.

“How did you even choose between them? Was it purely based on kissing skills?” Alya wiggled her eyebrows.

“Something like that,” Marinette said elusively. “I guess everything just worked out the way it was supposed to.”

She waved goodbye to Alya, then turned around, scanning for her boyfriend on the sunny steps of the school. He was meeting her parents today, officially, and they couldn’t be late. She spotted him in a circle, talking to Zoe, Rose, Juleka and Sabrina.

“Adrien!” she called.

“I’ll be right there!” Adrien called back. He turned back to the girls crowded around him. “Honestly, yeah, it can be difficult being compared to Chat Noir. I mean, come on, have you seen his abs? And his gorgeous smile?” The girls nodded fervently. “And his sense of humour, god. It’s enough to make anyone melt. He truly is the whole package. And I know Marinette loves me, but it’s hard not to get insecure sometimes, y’know?”

“But the best prince got the princess!” Rose piped up.

“That’s the thing, Rose,” Adrien sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not so sure he did.”

Adrien walked off, leaving the girls swooning behind him. Marinette gave him a glare as he approached, but she couldn’t keep up the stern exterior when he grinned happily at her.

“Stop creating drama in my love life,” she admonished.

“I can’t help it,” Adrien replied, waving back at the girls. “It’s too easy. Hey, maybe Chat Noir can stop by the school and make a big gesture, trying to get you back!”

Marinette watched Adrien as he chatted animatedly, Chat blending seamlessly into his personality, his jokingness and mischievousness coming alive as he hatched a plan to serenade her from the roof of the school. Marinette stood on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek, before looping her arm through his, waving at the girls, and walking him home.