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Marinette was looking for a book in a school library when she saw a girl and a boy behind a rack. They were kissing, kept in a strong emotional embrace.
Marinette was already 18, but she was modest and inexperienced, so the scene embarrassed her. She would just go away without being noticed, not to embarrass herself even more, but as clumsy as she was, she made a wrong step, and fell on a rack behind her, making it fall too.
The noise was loud and few students ran in to see what was happening, catching the kissing couple at the crime scene as well. Those jumped away from each other only to hear laughter and shameful comments from students around.
The girl’s face went red and she ran away, almost crying.
Marinette was angry with herself for embarrassing her, but there wasn’t much she could do now. She was whispering to Tikki how bad she would be at that girl’s place, when she heard a loud noise in the corridor.
The akuma was coming from the bathrooms side along the corridor, blasting people with green lights. She entered the library, screaming “Stop being shy and hiding, my creatures! Mother nature will speak through your instincts now!”
People who got hit were behaving differently from one another, someone went to hide, someone grabbed a book and read it enthusiastically, someone began to fight. But they all look like they no longer have control of their desires, but desires control them.
Marinette hid behind a racks to transform and ran into the fight.
***
Ladybug blinked a few times trying to understand where she was. She was in... her room? But she didn’t remember how she got in here.
The last thing she remembered was fighting an akuma and then — nothing, until she opened her eyes a minute ago.
Ladybug wanted to move, but found her hands and legs tied up with... Chat Noir’s belt? What was going on here? She tried to reach her yoyo, but couldn’t find it.
Ladybug was about to start panicking, when Chat Noir appeared on the window and jumped inside.
“Let me help you with that,” he said, untying her.
“Chat! What happened? Why am I here? Where is the akuma? Where is my yoyo?” To many questions at once, but she couldn’t choose the most important one.
“You’ve got hit by the akuma, and... uhh...” Chat’s cheeks blushed a little. “You weren’t in control of your actions. So, I... uh... had to immobilize you, and hide somewhere safe.”
“And safe is in a random civilian’s house?” Ladybug had to make sure her identity was safe.
“Marinette is trustworthy!” Chat Noir said protectively. “You even trusted her with the mouse miraculous ones, remember?” He looked away. “I would bring you to my house, but there is no one there I can really trust. Plus, you would know my identity then, so I figured...”
“You’re right, Chat,” Ladybug sighed in relief — he had no idea she was Marinette. “That was good thinking. I’m proud of you. And I'm thankful.” She thought a little. “But what about the akuma?! And my yoyo? Did I lose it?”
“No, no! It’s here.” Chat unfastened her yoyo from his side. “I had to borrow it to catch the akuma. It’s inside. I couldn’t purify it without your powers.” He grabbed his neck from behind. “Good that the influence on people only lasted until an akumatized person was active.”
Ladybug was really impressed.
“So you had to fight me and akuma at the same time? And you did it all alone!” She was thankful for such a great partner.
Ladybug purified the butterfly and threw her yoyo up to restore the damage.
“Pound it!” She said, offering her fist to Chat Noir.
“Pound it,” he barely touched her fist, looking embarrassed and slightly uncomfortable, while mirroring her gesture.
“What, cat got your tongue?” Ladybug smiled at him. It wasn’t often to see Chat Noir — the huge flirt he was — embarrassed. So she wanted to use the opportunity to get some revenge on him for flirting all the time. “Kitty, are you scared of me or something?” She asked, leaning closer to him.
“Uh...” Chat blushed more and swallowed. “We better get going. Marinette can come back home any time and... I have to leave anyway.”
Ladybug looked at him, surprised. That wasn’t the type of a reaction she’d expected. Something was off, but she couldn’t understand what.
“Ok.” She said in a more serious tone. “What is it, Chat? Did the akuma confuse you?”
“Not the akuma...” He was avoiding eye contact. “I really have to go now, LB.” Chat Noir turned around and jumped away.
“Spots off.” Ladybug said when she made sure her partner left.
“What was that, Tikki?” Marinette asked. “Do you think Chat Noir will act like that all the time now? What could happen to him?”
“I don’t know, Marinette.” Tikki was eating a macaroon. “I don’t remember anything either, but I feel really hungry.”
**
The answer to her question came unexpectedly, represented by none other than Alya Cesaire.
“Wow girl!” Alya said, when she entered Marinette’s room, giving her friend a strange mad look. “This was something!”
“What was something?” Marinette couldn’t understand why people act whirred today.
“You haven't seen Ladyblog yet, have you?” Alya guessed.
“What’s there to see? It was just a fight in a library, right?” Marinette had a worried feeling, so she could already tell: something wasn’t right.
“Marinette, I’m really, really sorry to post it, but people were sending pictures and videos, and I thought, if I won’t post them, somebody else will. And then we won’t be able to control comments etc...” Alya was speaking fast and nervous.
“What are you talking about?!” Marinette ran to turn on her computer and finally realized the damage.
Ladyblog exploded with pictures and videos of Ladybug and Chat Noir... kissing?
No. To say kissing would be a big understatement...
There were pictures of Ladybug making out with Chat Noir in all the possible positions.
There was a picture of her sitting on top of Chat, pinning his body to the ground, holding his hands over his head and kissing him.
There was a picture of Ladybug hanging at Chat Noir like a monkey, and licking his neck, while he was trying to hold his balance so as not to fall down.
There were lots of pictures and videos, but they all were showing their bodies in different kinds of embraces and kisses.
“Do I even want to see the videos?” Marinette asked with a doomed tone, when she was finally able to speak again after first shock.
“In my defense, none of those are mine.” Alya said with an apologetic look. “Do you want me to remove them?”
“And somebody else would post them instead?..” Marinette said from her trance state, still staring at the screen. “No. You’re right. At least we can control comments here.” Marinette slowly started to realize things. “Alya! Everyone saw that? All the city saw?! Oh my God! This is a disaster! This is the worst day ever!”
“People will forget it eventually” Alya placed hands on her shoulders. “Don’t worry. When the next Adrien’s advertisement comes out, everyone will forget about this little show.”
“Little show?!” Marinette hid her face behind her palms. “Were you there? What happened?” She let out a groan. “No, don’t tell me!... No, tell me! What should I know? Except for... that.” She nodded toward the screen, not showing her face though. “Did I kiss somebody else?”
“Actually, your choice and your loyalty belonged only to Chat Noir, I must give you that.” Alya relaxed finally and smiled.
“Alya!” Marinette roared at her. “Ok, stop. I’m not ready to listen to the whole story. I have to process it all first.” She turned in a chair to face her friend. “How do I go to school tomorrow?!”
“Marinette, you realize Ladybug doesn’t go to your school? You do.” Alya really wasn’t sure of that. “So, no one will even know it was you.”
“But I will!”
“Well, I’m sure the guy who went to pee on the library table instead of going to a toilet after being blasted might feel worse than you.” Alya assured her.
“I don’t think he has a website dedicated to his peeing skills for all Paris to observe!” Marinette argued.
But Alya was right, there was nothing to be worry about. No one knew it was her doing those things.
*
No one except for Chat Noir.
He didn’t know she was Marinette, but it wasn’t necessary, ‘cause he could actually see and talk to Ladybug, who did all that disaster.
This idea was driving her mad.
“How could you let me disgrace myself like that?!” Ladybug yelled, landing next to Chat Noir for their patrol next evening. “Why didn’t you stop me?!”
“I tried! I really did, LB!” Chat took a defensive position as if expecting her to lash out at him.
“Suuuure you did!” Ladybug was furious. “And you think I believe you?! All your dreams came true in one day, and I believe that you would try to resist it?”
Chat Noir straightened up.
“Is this what you think of me, m’lady?” There was naked pain in his eyes.
“What should I think?!” Ladybug was too much into her rash to notice. “You flirt with me all the time, isn't that what you wanted?”
Chat Noir was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was calm and low.
“What I wanted was for you to fall in love with me one day. Not for you to chase me around with mad eyes, trying to rip my suit off in public just to use my body.”
A wave of cold pierced Ladybug’s body. She was staring at Chat Noir shocked, all her anger disappeared at once. Goosebumps ran through her back.
“I’d better get going.” He said, turning away from her. “The city looks calm today. See you, LB.”
*
“I am so so stupid, Alya!” Marinette was hiding her head behind the pillow, only letting her mouth out to speak. “I took all my anger out on him, when it was only my fault! I got into a battle without figuring it out first, and without waiting for my partner!”
“Don’t worry, girl,” Alya said, sitting on the bed next to her. “He will forgive you, he loves you after all.”
“Mmmm,” Marinette mumbled plaintively behind the pillow. She wasn’t convinced.
“You know what’s interesting though?” Alya said in a pensive voice. “And I am not saying it as LadyNoir shipper.”
“What?” Marinette looked out from under the pillow.
“Your... uh... natural instinct wasn’t to jump on any random guy,” she started. “You specifically have chosen your Chat Noir.”
“Come on, Alya, this is absurd!” Marinette sat on the bed, looking annoyed. “Chat Noir was just the closest to me physically during the fight. It was just natural for my body to react to him. Wasn’t it all about natural instincts?”
“It sure was! Peeing on a table, hiding, exploring and stuff. But in your case — not the most obvious choice.”
“And why is that?” Marinette asked with a sarcastic tone.
“Well, there were plenty of guys around, good-looking too. Don’t tell Nino I’ve said that.” Alya winked at her. “But you scattered them all away in different directions. And when Chat Noir appeared you pounced on him like a female during mating.”
“Alya!” Marinette exclaimed, her cheeks flushing.
“Sorry, my bad.” Alya’s face didn’t show she was actually sorry though.
“Well, he is my partner,” Marinette didn’t even notice that. “Isn't it natural that I would choose a person more familiar to me?”
“It would explain things,” Alya smiled mysteriously. “If not for Luka.”
“Luka? How does he enter into this?”
“Luka came to school to pick up Juleka for some family event,” Alya explained. “And he was on the scene, trying to help people to run away from the akuma.”
“So?” Marinette could somehow already see the situation turned against her.
“So, the thing is, akuma was chasing him at some point, and you picked Luka up, and dropped him next to the others and went back against the akuma.”
“So my natural instinct is to help people in trouble and fight evil! Good to know that!” Marinette felt a little better.
“So, with your ex-boyfriend your instinct was to protect, but when Chat Noir arrived, your instinct was to pin him to the ground between your legs?”
Marinette was staring at her friend with round eyes for a few moments. “Well... well... maybe it’s because our miraculous are connected, that’s why!”
“Riiiiiiight! That would explain things.” Alya pretended to buy it, letting Marinette off the hook for now. “So, maybe you could thank Chat next time you see him? He doesn’t deserve your anger.”
Ladybug was about to finish patrolling her part of the city.
When they met before patrol, Chat Noir was quete. She wanted to apologize, but he left as soon as she spoke the route. So now, coming back to the meeting point, Ladybug was determined to fix things between them.
As soon as he landed next to her, she said “I’m sorry, Chat!” and hugged him as a sign of reconciliation.
He tensed and pulled away from her a little, blushing.
Ladybug looked at him in surprise.
“Are you still mad at me?” Ladybug felt bitterness in her throat.
“No, no. It’s just...” Chat Noir swallowed. “I’m just a guy, who... had been in very... close contact with a girl of his dreams... I have instincts too.” He looked away, grabbing his neck from behind. “Sorry. I just need some time to forget your... taste.” She blushed too, making the color of their cheeks even.
She suddenly realized that she was still hugging him, and bounced away. An awkward silence hung between their flushed faces.
“You know,” she started, trying to defuse the situation. “They said I was scaring the other boys away until you arrived.” She laughed nervously. “That’s funny, right? Ha-ha. Apparently, I’m only instinctively attracted to you.”
Instead of joining her laughter, Chat Noir drew in a sharp breath with his mouth open and stared at her in amazement.
“You...” His eyes glittered with pain. “You shouldn’t say things like that to me, m’lady.”
“I... I’m sorry!” She only now realized how it must’ve sounded to him. “I thought it would make you laugh, defuse the atmosphere, that picture — me scaring guys away!”
“Well,” Chat Noir said, finally coping with his emotions. “The part when I’ve arrived was... funny enough...”
Ladybug blushed again, imagining the scene.
“Maybe there is something about your instincts you’re hiding even from yourself, Bugaboo?” Chat Noir leaned forward to her.
Ladybug saw, he was trying to be his usual flirting self, but the blushing on his face and heavy breathing, gave his true emotions away.
Two can play that game, she thought, leaning on him as well.
“It’s good you don’t hide anything from yourself, Kitty.”
Their faces were just centimeters apart, and Ladybug expected him to be scared away, like he normally was in such moments. What she didn’t expect was her own breath to break from this close distance.
Chat Noir’s eyes widened a little and lips parted, removing a playful grin from his face. Ladybug’s expression was mirroring his. A warm shiver ran down her body, her chest throbbed, her lips went dry.
Ladybug felt the world parted, and turned as her eyes closed by themselves in anticipation of a kiss.
But there was no kiss.
Instead she felt her body lifted, and Ladybug opened her eyes in anxiety. Chat Noir was holding her in his arms jumping on the rooftops.
“What... where are you taking me?!” She exclaimed.
Chat Noir didn’t respond. He landed in a dark alley and let her stand again.
“Two things, m’lady.” Ladybug was staring at him, eyes wide opened. She couldn’t possibly predict what he had to say. “First, that place was out in the open, and you don’t want to give the public more topics for buzzing.”
Ladybug only now realized that she was about to kiss her partner. Again. In front of possible passages or cameras.
“And the second... uh... I know the taste of your... uncontrolled kisses already.” He touched her cheek with a palm. “I’d like to have a deliberate one instead.”
If people were dying out of embarrassment, that would be the moment for Ladybug to be dead. Playful irresponsible boy she thought she knew just saved her from two things she’d probably regret doing.
“Chat, I...” she started, not really knowing what to say.
“I know, LB, you don’t see me that way.” He removed his hand from her face. “It’s just hard sometimes to remember. Especially when you... look at me like that. It plays tricks with my feelings.”
Chat Noir went silent for a minute. His face was gloomy and pensive.
“Chat,” Ladybug wanted to comfort him. “I’ve messed up. I’ll make it up to you.”
He turned to look into her eyes.
“I don’t think I’m able to accept any kind of direct attention from you without getting a wrong idea right now.” His face flashed with some unknown emotion. “I really appreciate it, don’t get me wrong!” His expression softened. “It’s just... challenging right now... I’d better stay away from you for a while... for both our sakes.”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“I'm not sure if I can protect your... dignity from myself now.” He explained. “And my heart from being broken.”
Chat Noir left without saying another word. But what he said was enough for Ladybug’s heart to start beating faster for him from now on.
*
It was wired, but Ladybug was happy to hear an akuma alert today. Almost a week passed since she saw Chat Noir for the last time.
They patrolled in turns, alone, and now she was almost ready to admit to herself that she missed him.
Which was absolutely normal, right? They were partners, after all, and friends... But there was more to it, and Ladybug knew it.
She suffered without him. She physically missed him, like if something was taken away from her body. And this wasn’t normal at all.
Ladybug looked around, more in search for her partner than for the actual akuma, but she found the victim instead. She saw a tall man, dressed in something like a dark cloak. He was walking down the street, shooting people with grey plates, turning them into dust.
Ladybug saw Chat Noir on the roof across the yard from her, and she just got distracted for a moment thinking about how close his face was to hers last time they met. She felt aching warmth in her chest, as goosebumps ran over her back.
But while Ladybug was trying to shake those feelings away, Chat Noir was already running to her direction.
“Ladybug!” He yelled, jumping in front of her to prevent her from taking the hit.
Chat Noir’s body immediately vanished, crumbling to dust right in front of her eyes.
She felt like her heart stopped beating.
It wasn’t the first time Chat Noir was protecting her with his own body, and it always was painful and sad for her to see.
But Ladybug never felt as terrified and furious as she was feeling at that moment.
She forgot all caution and ran straight to the akuma, deftly dodging flying discs. Ladybug instantly twisted the victim with her yoyo, knocking him to the ground and running into the disc-launcher he was holding with her foot. The weapon cracked from and a strong blow, and a little purple butterfly flew out of it.
After that everything mixed in one prolonged moment, while Ladybug purified the akuma and restored destruction, throwing the yoyo into the air. Few people appeared on the street, as well as Chat Noir on the roof above her.
Ladybug jumped to him, furious as hell, grabbing him and jumping into the nearest alley.
“Don't do that anymore!” She screamed, dropping him on his feet.
“I’m fine!” Chat yelled back. He didn’t look happy either. “You were distracted! It’s my job to...”
He didn’t finish as Ladybug had thrown herself on his neck and kissed his lips, rude and violently.
Chat Noir didn’t respond to her kiss. He pushed her away with force, and looked at his partner with anger and pain on his face, even tears glistened in his eyes.
“Why can’t you just... just...” He didn’t finish his words, but turned around and left, leaving Ladybug one on one with her emotions.
“Why did he push me away like that, Tikki?!” Marinette was still upset when she got home. “I was just... I just... He doesn’t love me anymore!” She blinked away tears that somehow appeared in her eyes.
“Marinette!” Tikki was unusually emotional as well. “You need to deal with your feelings, otherwise you get distracted and make it dangerous for yourself, and for others too!”
Merinette was looking at her qwami, replaying today’s akuma fight in her head. Tikki was right. It was Marinette’s distraction that caused the problems. And it was her uncertain emotions that became the reason for Chat Noir’s quick departure.
Why did she even kiss him? Was it just a way to release the stress she had? Or was she carried away by an argument and wanted to punish him? Or was she frightened by his death before her eyes and it made her oversensitive?
Whatever options Marinette came up with to convince herself, the truth was too simple and obvious to stay unnoticed, even for her.
Marinette kissed Chat Noir because she wanted to kiss him.
Probably, this type of kiss wasn’t the one she actually wanted. She was really worried and was in great shock when she was next to him today.
But the desire to feel the taste of his lips had overwhelmed her more and more for the last few days, distracting from everyday’s routine, and, as it turned out, even from the enemy in the battle.
And now she knew that Chat Noir rejected her affection. He pushed her away. He was angry with her for kissing him. Well, what an irony! She’d kill him for trying to kiss her like that just a couple of weeks ago. And now she was the one who was rejected.
“You have to tell him how you feel, Marinette. It isn’t safe to have so strong unspoken emotions between you two. We saw it today.” Tikki turned away from her for some reason. “He is not Adrien,” she added. “You are able to speak to Chat Noir. And he does love you, he is just confused and hurt now.”
“But I don’t even know how I feel, Tikki!” Marinette was desperate. “He was so playful, silly, and...” She sighed. “And now he is so thoughtful, and serious, and...”
“Do you really think he’d changed so much in such a short time?” Tikki gave her a supportive smile. “Or maybe you just didn’t have an opportunity to see him... from this perspective before?”
“You right, Tikki, as always. Of course he is himself. It’s just so... so... I can’t stop thinking about him!”
It was nothing like what she felt next to Adrien. When only his presence was enough for Marinette to blush like crazy, not talking about Adrien’s accidental touch.
But didn’t it mean she could never relax next to Adrien then? Ever?
Chat Noir’s presence was not only normal. She pretended to be annoyed, but honestly, she’d always felt confident and safe when he was around. She always thought it was her own effort. But what if his influence on her had a much greater impact she’d let herself realize before?
She remembered their first fight. It was Stone heart, and she was completely sure she'd been chosen by mistake. It was Chat Noir who convinced her that she was strong enough. And from then it was always him supporting her in her moments of weakness.
She felt so natural in his strong hold, that had saved her more times, then she could count. Their bodies went in so much unison together!
How was Chat Noir even able to keep his desires inside for such a long time without letting them out? Now Marinette could see her partner was much, much stronger, then she used to think.
Probably constant flirting and humor helped him to defuse the tension. If she was in his place — so physically close to the object of her desires — feeling for him what he felt for her, she would... She froze on that thought.
That was what she actually did. She couldn’t stop from kissing him...
And now her mind couldn’t avoid seeing the reason why.
**
“Thanks for agreeing to meet me, Chat Noir.” Ladybug said, when they met in Marinette's room.
Ladybug didn't want to be seen in public if something went wrong and they started arguing again. In addition, on her territory it would be easier for her to talk to Chat, as she believed.
Plus, it looked like Chat Noir had his trust in Marinette too, so he didn’t mind. Ladybug just said that Marinette let them borrow her room while she was out.
“Sure, LB.” Chat said, most clearly avoiding eye contact and keeping his distance. “We’re partners, right?”
‘He hates me,’ Ladybug thought. ‘He’s only here because it’s his job. But I’ll tell him anyway. It won't get any worse, he already avoids me.’
“I wanted to explain myself... to you.” She started. “I haven't been acting like me lately...”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Chat Noir interrupted. “I’m fine... we’re fine... Once I calm down, I’ll be back to normal and...”
“Chat!” Now Ladybug interrupted him. The conversation obviously wasn't about to go well.
“No, really. I’m ok. Don’t worry, I...”
“Chat!” Ladybug said louder.
He looked at her. First time in forever. And her heart fell in anticipation of pain: the time had come.
“I’m in love with you, Chat Noir!” There. Ladybug lowered her eyes.
Now he’ll hate her forever. For not returning his feelings in time, for rejecting him, and most of all, for confessing to him, when it was too late...
She didn’t understand how Chat Noir ended up next to her, but he pulled her into his arms so quickly, she didn’t even have a moment to inhale.
His lips covered hers with so much passion and desire, she lost any thought she had in her mind.
Chat Noir was kissing her furiously, dragging his tongue deep into her mouth, and all her body responded as she kissed him back with the same amount of passion.
Seizing the initiative, Ladybug threw him onto Marinette’s bed, jumping on top of him. She held Chat Noir between her legs, pinning his hands over his head, kissing him with hot, explosive kisses.
At some point, she had forgotten herself, when Chat Noir freed his hands and turned them both over. Now he was on top of her, pushing closer to her between her legs. She felt a hot desire in her groin, while he pressed against her, hard and hot.
“I want you so much!” He pronounced in a heavy, hoarse whisper.
“I... I...” She felt like she was suffocating. “I want you too!”
He gave a groan. Then he froze and pulled back, eyes round, but clouded with passion.
“Ladybug, I... I love you... I love you.” He whispered, like he was drunk, but could still remember the most important thing.
“I love you too, Chat Noir.” She exhaled.
His gaze cleared a little as if he was making an effort, returning himself to reality.
“Are you..” He looks down at her with eyes full of pain again. “Are you sure?”
She touched his cheeck softly, and smiled: she won’t let him suffer anymore. “I am sure. I love you.”
But he still didn’t seem convinced.
“What about...” He looked straight in her eyes. “What about the boy you like?”
“Adrien Agreste?” Ladybug didn’t notice her slip of tongue at first.
Those two words sounded so natural in her room, full of Adrien’s pictures. For how many hours she was discussing him with her friends right here?
Ladybug looked away for a moment, her eyes sad. “I guess he IS only a good friend after all.”
She looked back at Chat, but his face was pale now. Chat Noir was looking at her in horror.
She just now realized she called Adrien by his name.
Her eyes widened.
“It wasn’t what you think it was!” Ladybug said quickly. “Not a celebrity crush! I know him really well, we’re friends, we’re...” For once Ladybug was more worried about what Chat Noir would think of her then about keeping links to her secret identity hidden.
“Marinette?” Chat asked. His voice was shaking.
A wave of cold fear swept over her back on the sound of her name. Ladybug was just staring at him with her mouth open. But probably it was enough for him to confirm her identity.
“He isn’t just a good friend to you, Marinette.” Chat Noir whispered gently, when his face had finally softened.
“He... isn’t?” She asked slowly, for some reason ignoring the reveal of her own identity.
“You are the love of his life, Ladybug.” Her mind would jump to all sorts of ideas about him joking, teasing, playing or whatever else, but Chat’s face was so calm and serious now, Ladybug couldn’t even start placing what he’d just said and why.
“Uh..” was the only sound she could make. She frowned, realizing that something important was happening, but couldn’t quite understand what exactly.
“Claws in.” And before Ladybug could protest or escape — well, that wasn’t really an option, as Chat Noir was still on top of her, pressing her down to her bed — Adrien Agreste appeared in front of her.
Now it was her face’s turn to become pale, eyes widened in horror.
“I...” Adrien took a moment to breathe in, “I love you, Marinette.”
Marinette wasn’t sure, what part of all this moment was most shocking to her: Chat Noir revealing his identity unexpectedly? Chat Noir being Adrien Agreste? Adrien Agreste saying he loved her? Adrien Agreste’s body pressed hard between her legs? Her not feeling any kind of embarrassment or shame about Adrien pinning her down her bed like that?
Probably she was too overwhelmed with shock to freak out about any of the above. Or maybe she would freak out anyway, if Adrien was just Adrien — very much loved, but so far and unattainable, and therefore alien and separate from her.
But this Adrien wasn’t that Adrien anymore. This Adrien was Chat Noir. Her Chat Noir. So naturally close to her and easy-going, so deeply accepted and trusted.
Marinette slowly started to come to her senses. Did Adrien say he loved her? Was he still laying on top of her?
The last thought brought her back to perceptions of her body. The hot wave of passion was taking her over again as she moved toward his face, dragging into his lips. She felt Adrien kissing her back without hesitation, as they returned to their tight embrace.
There were a lot of things to discuss, a lot of possible problems to resolve. But it all could wait.
Now it was time for pure natural instincts.
*
“Umm.” Alya was scrolling through pictures on her phone with a slightly embarrassed face. “So, those new pictures on Ladyblog.” She glanced at Marinette drinking her coffee on the next chair in a cafe. “You know, the ones with Ladybug making out with Chat Noir on patrols?.. You really don’t mind them being posted on Ladyblog?”
“Why would I?” Marinette smiled and stretched sweetly. “It is what it is.”
“Marinette, are you really dating your partner?” Alya lowered her voice so only her friend could hear her.
“I certainly am.” Her friend smirked.
“And you’re fine with all the city watching you two together like that?” Alya was talking slowly, like she wanted to make sure Marinette understood her words well.
“I’m just not afraid of my natural instincts anymore. Not ashamed of them either.” Marinette’s voice was playful, but serious.
“Who are you and what you did to my friend Marinette?” Alya was staring at her with surprised eyes. “But what about...” Alya leaned to her ear a little. “What about Adrien?”
“What about him?” An innocent smile appeared on Marinette’s face.
“Well, you know,” Alya’s voice sounded almost annoyed. “You kind of broke our brains though the last few years talking about how much you loved him all the time.”
“Hmm,” Marinette looked through a window with a dreamy expression on her face. “You’re right.” She said finally. “But maybe I prefer him to be only a friend after all.” She turned to Alya and gave her a sly and smug grin. “At least for now.”
“For now?” Alya exclaimed, rounding her eyes. “What is that supposed to mean? And when did you start to be uninhibited like this anyway?”
“The moment I accepted my true feelings.” Marinette said mysteriously.
“And you are planning to leave your partner once for Adrien or something?” Alya looked at her accusingly.
“Oh, not a chance!” Marinette assured her. “I’m never letting that hot kitty go away from me, not even for one step.”
“You are scaring me, Marinette Dupan-Cheng, you know that?” Alya clearly couldn’t place what she heard all together.
“I’m just really happy, Alya. Is that so hard to accept?” Marinette was looking at her with a soft warm smile.
“Hey dudes!” Nino’s voice called them from the doorway when he and Adrien entered the cafe.
“Hey, guys!” Marinette waved at them. “Come join us!”
“Knew we could find you here!” Adrien said, as he and Nino sat down at the girl’s table.
“Oh?” Alya looked at him surprised.
“Nino and I were planning on a little secret party at my place this weekend.” Adrien explained. “My father and Nathalie are leaving for a working trip, so...” He portrayed a pleading smile to the girls. “I’m not very good at those things. Will you help us arrange everything?.. please.” He made a begging gesture with his hands.
Marinette giggled. “Of course we will, you silly thing!” She smiled cheerfully, ruffling the hair on Adrien’s head. “What else are friends for?”
Alya and Nino looked at each other and Alya shrugged her shoulders as a sign of bewilderment.
“You are the best friends I could ever dream about.” Adrien smiled back at Marinette and kissed the back of her hand with a dramatic gesture, making her giggle again.
Alya looked at them and finally relaxed. Everyone was happy. And what else could you possibly wish for your friends?