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Marinette was good at plans. Exceptional, really. Her plans as Ladybug managed to save the day on numerous occasions, convoluted as they were. Her plans as Marinette encountered a couple of obstacles, but nothing she couldn’t push through to ensure optimal results.
But sometimes her plans made her want to grab the nearest pillow and scream in it until she let out all of her frustration.
Especially when those plans were designed to keep her and Adrien’s relationship a secret.
They knew the risks and complications that came with revealing their identities, but they were young and in love. Chat Noir had snuck into her heart like a warm beam of sunlight peeking through the foliage, and she was powerless to stop it. And through some lovely miracle, Marinette also managed to enchant her kitty just enough that he lingered on her balcony after movie nights. Late night confessions clued them in just enough to suspect that the person next to them was the person they had been in love with all along, and before they knew it, Ladybug and Chat Noir became Marinette and Adrien.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” she breathed out, cupping his cheek gently.
He raised his hand to hold hers against his cheek, squeezing her fingers slightly to prove to himself this moment was real.
“I knew it had to be you.”
They were so close, oh so tantalizing close. All she had to do was tilt her head and she’d finally get a kiss they’d both remember and cherish for the rest of their lives.
And the rest was history.
But they had to keep their love a secret. The world was a dangerous place for two superheroes in love, and they were both too protective of each other to risk anything that could put them in danger before they were strong enough to get rid of the threats that loomed over them, once and for all.
So for now, Ladybug and Adrien had to school their features to prevent their lovesick grins from giving their affection for her partner and his classmate away.
“We’ll be out of the woods soon,” he had whispered before burying his hands in her hair and kissing her softly in the moonlit safety of her room.
She knew that, but it did little to soothe the longing she felt when her eyes met Adrien’s from across the dance floor.
His green-eyed gaze glowed against the black of his button up and slacks, and she was too mesmerized to bring herself to look away first. She knew he also couldn’t help but stare at her pale blue dress, the one he watched her create in the late night hours when he visited. It shimmered beautifully when it caught the light, and she couldn’t help the sadistic swell of pride she felt knowing he’d easily be able to catch a glimpse of her throughout the night because of it.
But she had to look away when she saw Kagami bump his shoulder with a small mischievous quirk of her lips. It was her idea that they arrive to the school dance with separate dates to avoid the temptation of being too close and intimate, but it still set an ache in her heart to be so far apart from him.
Soon, she thought with a despondent sigh.
“Marinette?”
She jumped slightly at the sound of Luka’s voice, and widened her eyes in surprise at the sight of his knowing smile.
“I know you want to be with him,” he said gently, as if not to startle her.
She ducked her head guiltily and stared intently at her black kitten heels to will the knot in her throat to disappear.
Everything she wanted was so close, and yet still felt too far away for her to truly grasp and hold on tight to.
“Go to him.”
She watched as Luka took her hands in his and slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his determined gaze.
“You brought me here as your friend, right?” he asked.
Marinette could only nod in reply, not trusting her voice to remain steady and composed.
“Then as your friend,” he urged, “I’m telling you he clearly loves you as much as you love him. Don’t let a love like that pass you by because you’re afraid.”
Afraid ?
Yes, she was afraid. Afraid of failing as Ladybug, afraid of putting Adrien in even greater danger. Those fears were usually big enough that she could ignore her greatest fear of all: not getting to live the love she’s dreamed of with the one who she entrusts her heart to.
She felt a small pressure against her hip where her purse lay and smiled shakily at the subtle bit of support her kwami gave her.
“Thank you Luka,” she whispered, reaching up to give him a quick hug before whirling around to find Adrien.
They could do it. They could live the life they’re meant to as young teenagers in love without fear. It was them against the world, after all.
She froze when she spotted him in Kagami’s arms, standing still in the crowd of couples that swayed to the rhythm of the slow ballad on the speakers.
She knew he loved her unconditionally. She knew it was her idea for him to ask her to the dance as friends. And yet…
How could she stop her heart from aching at the sight of him with someone else?
It was like staring at an eclipse; she knew she would only hurt herself to look at it, but she felt rooted to the spot like the masochist she was.
The music and sound of people talking and laughing were too much, rattling inside her brain until she couldn’t even hear her own thoughts. The oxygen seemed to have left the room in a rush, and she found herself struggling to breathe in the cramped space that only seemed to push in on her.
She had to get out .
Marinette took one last cursory glance at Adrien before bunching up her skirt and running out into the evening rain.
ooOoo
“Adrien, you're a fool.”
“Kagami?”
The force of her shoulder knocking against his and the flatness of her tone broke him out of the stupor he was in as he watched Marinette longingly. He knew Kagami was blunt but damn. No warning whatsoever.
“Come on,” she said, tugging him to the dance floor.
He followed her distractedly, his eyes still trained on Marinette as she turned to face Luka. She looked beautiful with her hair down, and he longed for the privacy of her room to run his hands through her silky hair as they snuggled under her blankets.
It was incredible how something as simple as the thought of brushing her hair as she fell asleep made his heart yearn like never before.
His feet stopped abruptly when Kagami whirled around to face him, scrutinizing him. He smiled awkwardly and rubbed his neck while waiting for her to say something.
“You love her.”
The way she said it left no room for disagreement. Not that he could ever bring himself to disagree. He knew he should have, if only to keep up the facade that Marinette and Adrien hadn’t undergone a life altering, reality shattering change in their relationship.
But denying that Adrien did not love Marinette was as ludicrous and pointless as saying the sky wasn’t blue. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop the adoration from pouring out of his gaze whenever she did literally anything.
So he remained silent.
He looked at Kagami wearily as she sighed and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. He couldn’t help but wonder what she could possibly be so frustrated about. He should be the one who was beyond frustrated! He was the one having to watch the love of his life spend the entirety of a school dance with someone else!
“So what are you waiting for?” she snapped.
Adrien couldn’t help but flinch slightly at that. There was nothing he could do; he had to wait until they were safe to do everything he wanted to do with Marinette. Hold hands in public, take her on adventures, and proclaim to the world how lucky he was to be loved by her.
“Adrien,” she sighed. “Nothing is ever completely safe. You just have to trust in your own ability and go for it– oof .”
He rushed forward and pulled Kagami into a tight hug.
“Thank you,” he breathed before turning around to find Marinette.
He hurriedly walked off the dance floor, his eyes scanning the crowd to find the tell-tale shimmer of her blue dress.
A flash of light shone in the corner of his eye, and he whipped his head just in time to see the ends of her dark hair flying in the breeze as she rushed out the doors.
Without a second thought, he ran out of the room and chased after her. He vaguely registered the ping s of raindrops ricocheting off his clothes and running through his hair, too focused on keeping Marinette in his sights.
“Gah, I hate getting wet,” came a quiet grumble from his shirt pocket.
He ran as fast as he could to catch up with her, but his lady was surprisingly fast. He had half a mind to transform just to gain an advantage, but soon he noticed that she stopped moving about a block ahead.
On the street where she first collided into him and branded her name on his heart. In the rain when he had been blessed to hear her laugh for the first time.
When he finally reached within earshot, he stopped to finally get her to notice him.
“Marinette!”
He waited with bated breath as her head turned to face him.
And she smiled .
His feet moved on their own accord, closing the distance as she ran and collided into him. The second she ran into his arms, the whole world disappeared. All he could hear was the rhythmic beating of their hearts, racing in tandem. Now that he knew all of her, her laughter was like a dandelion pushing through pavement cracks, offering him the promise of a better future in spite of everything.
If she could hear his thoughts, she’d roll her eyes with faux exasperation and a light blush dusting her cheeks.
Hopeless , she’d smirk.
And she would be completely right.
He was hopelessly enchanted by everything that was her. He wanted nothing more than for the rest of the world to know that he was irrevocably hers. Just as she was his.
His heart was overflowing with giddiness, and he laughed with her as he spun her around.
He set her down on her feet, brushing away the strands of hair that stuck to her forehead and bending down to headbutt her gently.
“So we’re doing this?”
He didn’t need to elaborate. He knew she was just as ready as him to let their love emerge from the twilight.
“Yes kitty,” she giggled before pressing her lips against his to seal their fate.
“You and me.”
And if they laughed and danced in the rain well into the night, who could blame them?
Their romantic dreams were so close to seeing the daylight.