Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was something to be said about not noticing how much time passed because of being happy. 

Marinette remembered so clearly the day she’d surrendered to her feelings for Chat and had decided to give up on Adrien. And it had been two years ago. 

She never regretted making that decision. She loved Chat and while it had been hard for them to work around secret identities, they had done it. There had been hard moments, of course. Sometimes Marinette had been this close to throwing all the rules to the wind, because she just wanted her boyfriend next to her in everyday life. 

What had saved her from making excuses about why she wasn’t dating anyone else of course was the fact that she was waiting for her 18th birthday. It wasn’t unheard of for people to choose this way. Because what was the point of falling in love and getting with someone if there was always the possibility that you’d have to break up when they didn’t turn out to be your soulmate.

Soulmate. Somehow Marinette had managed to avoid thinking about this word for two years. The truth was that at first she hadn’t even allowed herself to dream that she would still be with Chat after such a long time. After all, life for them was an endless line of near-death experiences. 

Of course, this wasn’t an excuse. She was happy that they were both alive and well. But she could excuse her 16-year-old mind for thinking that worrying about a future that might never come to be was pointless. After all, she had done it before that as well. This was how she’d managed to be with Chat, by not worrying about a future she had no control over.

She had to admit that she’d felt some doubts creep in as her birthday approached. Because this meant that Chat was likely to be 18 soon as well. She hadn’t obsessed over it, somehow, but she had waited for him to tell her that this was over, he had another one to pursue now. And it had never happened.

So this meant that it all fell on her. It was the eve of her 18th birthday and Marinette was a ball of nerves. 

She had to tell him. She had to prepare for the fact that her life would be different tomorrow. She couldn’t turn around a tradition as old as time. She hadn’t met a person who hadn’t ended up with their soulmate in all her life. Maybe there were the ones who had fought against this, but they weren’t around. They were the outcasts no one ever mentioned again, treated even worse than those who didn't find love with their soulmates. She wasn’t sure if she could pay such a price for her love.

Chat, bless him, knew her too well. In fact, he knew her so well that she didn’t think much could change if he found out her identity. He’d only have a name to put to her face. A face without a mask. Sometimes the need to tell him, to be free of the secrets, was overwhelming. But she always reminded herself that the danger was real. 

Anyway, this might no longer trouble her after tomorrow.

“M’lady, what is wrong?” He asked. 

It was a warm night, the sky was clear and Marinette would normally enjoy the opportunity to be outside with him, to watch the stars and cuddle. But the approaching deadline for their happiness dampened her mood. She couldn’t shake it off as most of her worries. This was too big, too real.

“Come with me,” she said, taking his hand and leading him to a place they were both familiar with. 

They had gone to that hotel room so many times over the years. Sometimes it was because they had to recuperate after a tough fight and just needed each other. Sometimes it was because they just wanted to pretend that they were a normal couple that would watch a movie and make out. 

The arrangements were done as a favour from the hotel owner. The room was there for Ladybug and Chat Noir if they ever needed it.

It was a small, attic room in which Chat could no longer stand upright without hitting his head. It had only a bed and an old TV set as well as a tiny bathroom tucked into the corner. It wasn’t much but it held some of Marinette’s most precious memories. 

“I didn’t know we were coming here,” Chat said when they arrived and squeezed in through the small window. 

“I have something to tell you, kitty,” Marinette said, her hands squeezing her yo-yo so hard she was worried about somehow breaking it for a moment. 

“Hey, look at me. Whatever it is, there is no need to be afraid,” he said softly. 

His voice, the one that had pulled her back from the brink of countless spirals, helped. But it also brought tears to her eyes. God, she loved him so much. She didn’t want to hurt him. This was why she still couldn’t look at him.

“It’s…”

He gripped her hands, saving the yo-yo from her. It somehow gave her the courage to finish the sentence.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow.”

She could feel the change in the air but she didn’t dare look up as the tears fell.

This couldn’t have been such a surprise for him. They both knew that it was coming sooner or later. But having the deadline move from being a few months into the future to a single night was different. 

“This is the end, then.”

She could hear the effort it cost him to say this. She could hear the tears in his voice. And when she looked up, she saw the excruciating pain in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry. I should have told you before. But I couldn’t. I kept putting it off. I kept expecting that you’d be the first to tell me.”

He shook his head in a silent disagreement. 

“I don’t want to do this. But I can't just tell people that there is someone I love but they can never meet him, I don’t even know his name.”

Tears choked her up again and made talking impossible. Not that she had a lot more to say.

“If this is our last night together, can you stay?” 

The quiet request almost didn’t reach her through the tears and pain. She blinked and then just nodded. This was why she’d brought him there. She couldn’t imagine going now.

They cuddled on the bed and it felt so normal until he started talking again, his voice too grave.

“I know you don’t want to think about this, but give the guy a chance, ok?”

‘Kitty…”

Imagining herself with someone else hurt too much. It was just wrong.

“I want you to be happy, ok? I know this is not what we dreamed of having in the future, but I don’t want you to live your life in resentment and regret.”

“There is no way he can be anything like you.”

“Hey, he’s your soulmate. Maybe it might even turn out to be me.”

She laughed despite herself. Trust him to joke about this.

“If only.”

“Isn’t there anyone who you could imagine this with? Like..”

The other guy. He meant Adrien, the one she’d been in love with before she decided that she couldn’t keep feeling torn between the two of them. Adrien had always been unattainable while Chat had handed his heart to her on a platter. The choice had been easy in the end and she’d never regretted it.

“Maybe,” she said in a small voice. She didn’t think that she was that lucky but she had to admit that if it was Adrien whose name she found in her envelope, it would be a fun joke on fate’s part. 

“There was this girl,” Chat said quietly as his fingers combed her hair. He must have felt her stiffen but kept going. She hadn’t expected that imagining him with someone else would feel as if someone had punched  the air out of her, but it did. “We lost touch over the years. But at one point we were close and she.. It’s silly.”

“What?” She asked, morbid curiosity filling her. She’d never even thought about having a rival before.

“I might have hoped that you would turn out to be her.”

Was it wrong that she felt relief? 

“Oh. Well. I hope that when the time comes, you get her as your soulmate.” She could afford to be generous now when she knew that the other one reminded him of her.

“She’ll never be able to replace you though.”

It was what she wanted to hear but it also didn’t make this easier. 

“Kitty," she pleaded, desperately clinging to him. 

“I love you," he said simply, his lips on her hair.

The tears were back in full force again. She knew that the end was inevitable but she couldn't let go just yet.

“I love you too.” 

Blindly, she found his lips and kissed him. One last time. It couldn’t hurt, right? What happened before she found out what her future held didn’t count. She couldn’t be held accountable for this. 

As they kissed, the tears dried out and were replaced by something else. He was there, with her, maybe for the last time. She wanted him.

He paused when she reached out for the nightlight and turned it off, making darkness fall around them. They had done this before. When they needed to recharge, when they took pity on the kwamis, when they got curious. Darkness had been their friend.

“M’lady,” he whispered when her lips found his again. It was clear that this wasn't about the kwamis. 

“I want you.”

It was easier to say this in the dark, when he couldn’t see her blazing cheeks. 

“Is this a good idea? I don’t think… “

“Then don’t think.”

She kissed him harder and once she was sure that his eyes were closed, she mumbled the phrase that freed her. Keeping her eyes closed, she felt him do the same. When they kissed again, they could no longer hold back. Fingers tugged at clothes and moans filled the air as they moved together. She felt him surrender to her and this was the last piece she needed to go through with this.

This wasn’t about what was right. It was about what they wanted. If they couldn’t have it all, they could have this at least.

Chapter Text

“Adrien, you have a visitor.”

Adrien turned around with a groan, cursing the light.

No. It couldn’t be. Not today of all days. He could still taste Ladybug on his lips. He could still feel her wrapped around him as if she was afraid to let go. She had been but she had eventually done it. 

His whole being was made of memories with her. So many happy moments over the years. Even with this inevitable end in sight, he had never stopped living for the stolen moments of love with her. 

He wanted to use this day to mourn the loss. To say a proper goodbye to their love. It was bad enough that he knew that somewhere out there, she had received her letter and was maybe on her way to meet her soulmate. 

It hurt so much. 

“Who is it?” He asked, rubbing his eyes. He had barely slept. Unless it was urgent, it could wait. He didn’t have the energy to be polite. 

“Your former classmate Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

Marinette? What was Marinette doing at his house after such a long time? 

And then he remembered. It was her birthday. They had once celebrated it together, the date had stuck. And now she was coming to him, today of all days.. It could mean only one thing. Goodness. He’d subconsciously been waiting for this moment and it had come.

His own letter was tucked away, almost forgotten. He had been conflicted when he’d opened it. While it wasn’t a lie that he’d waited because he wanted to see if Marinette got him and to give her the choice about what to do, he’d also needed the extra time with Ladybug. It had been selfish, but so was he. 

He’d told his father that he’d take care of it. His father had been too busy to care, as usual. For once, Adrien had been grateful for this.

“I will let you tell your father later,” Nathalie said, sensing his hesitation. Small mercies. 

“Thank you, Nathalie. Send her in,” he called over his shoulder as he got into the bathroom to make himself presentable.

One look into the mirror told him that this wouldn’t be an easy task. The love that had sustained him for two years was over. He could imagine what any of his friends would have told him - just another teen romance, he would get over it, pat, pat. But he knew that this was wrong. He loved her too much for this to be over. 

Then again, clinging to this impossible reality would only cause him more pain. Ladybug wasn’t his soulmate. Marinette, on the other hand, was. 

He had been trying to gather the courage to go to her. She needed an explanation. He had wanted to tell her that he loved someone else. But he had been a coward. He hadn’t even told Ladybug about this.

And now she was coming to him, taking this decision out of his hands, the way he’d wanted her to. And he still had no idea what to do. The only thing that he knew was that he couldn’t imagine falling in love with anyone else, ever. Only Ladybug had a place in his heart.

This was when his sleep-deprived mind somehow made a connection he hadn’t dared to make until now. 

He finished washing and dressing quickly and got back into his room. 

It was the moment when he saw her. His heart knew before his eyes could catch up, but they confirmed what he felt. She looked so forlorn. Just like Ladybug who he’d sent off hours earlier, minus the ever present mask. 

She looked as if she’d given up on everything that was precious to her. As if she’d left a part of her behind in the time before she had to face fate. 

A surge of happiness almost knocked him off his feet. What if he’d found her? What were the chances that Ladybug and Marinette’s birthdays were on the same day? Maybe they were destined for each other and would have a chance to be happy.

But of course, it wasn’t that simple. It was all so complicated. He couldn’t just ask her so he’d have to keep his suspicions to himself for now.

“Adrien,” she said with a polite smile that never reached her eyes. Ouch. Whatever it was that was going on with her, it was bad. Something as bad as the heart-wrenching goodbye he’d lived through.

“Marinette. It’s good to see you.” 

It was the truth. She had always been a dear friend to him. Someone with a potential for more if he hadn’t already given his heart away. Fate really worked in mysterious ways.

“You know why I’m here, don’t you?” She said as she waved around the envelope in her hand. 

“Yes.”

“Do you know what? I used to have this huge crush on you when we went to school together,” she explained with a sad smile. No way. Then again, somehow the way she’d used to act around him made more sense now. “So it’s really ironic that I got you.”

“Well, I guess that’s good then?” He offered. For a second he almost laughed out loud. He'd been the one to suggest that her soulmate could be her old flame. He hadn't expected that this could be him. But even if she didn't know his secret identity, maybe this would be some solace for her.

“In a way it is, yes. But I need you to know that I love someone else,” she added, tears filling her eyes. Then again, she would need time to see it like this. 

“I’m sorry, Marinette.”

This was the moment when he had to tell her that he had the same problem. It was only fair for her to know. But if she was actually Ladybug, he’d be lying. He actually loved her. 

It had to be her. There were too many coincidences. But what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t know. He couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t run away from this. 

He wanted to offer her more comfort. To take her into his arms and let her cry. But he wasn’t allowed to do this. In fact, he better stay away until he had better control of himself around her. Otherwise he’d just give himself away with how easy and familiar it all was. 

“You already got your letter, right?” She asked once she regained her composure. 

“Yes. It’s you, Marinette.” 

He couldn’t lie. The moment to tell her was here. Even if his suspicions were wrong, no matter how slim the chances, she had to know. 

Something flashed in her eyes. A spark of hope. 

There had been tales of people who weren’t a match. They had no idea why fate played with them like that. Why make someone one’s soulmate if it wasn’t meant to be? It was bound to end in pain even if one of them decided to settle.

When two people got each other it was considered the best possible situation. Of course, it wasn’t so if they were already in love with someone else. But even then, the relationship was usually given a chance.

"You didn't tell me?" She asked, a crease between her eyebrows. He wanted to reach out and smooth it. 

"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure what to do. I decided to wait and see if we matched," he offered as an apology, hoping that she wouldn't hold it against him. 

“So I guess this is a sign that we have to do this,” she sighed. She looked resigned. 

“Let’s start slow, ok? No one expects us to get married at 18.”

She winced. He’d said the wrong thing again. He wanted her to feel at ease. To comfort her. Not to scare her.

“Look, Marinette. We were once friends, right? We can work with that. I know that it’s not an ideal situation but it could have been much worse. We can make it better if we try,” he said softly. 

“You’re right, yes. A date then,” she replied.  

She was willing to give it a try. For now. It was a tentative agreement but well, he could work with that. He needed more time to figure things out and hopefully find a way for them to be happy. 

This meant facing his father and this was what he did after sending her off.

“Father. Marinette was here. She just got her letter.”

“Well?” He barely looked up from his work, but Adrien knew that this was something that was more important than mundane everyday things, so he’d listen. 

“It’s me.”

“I suppose you’re here to tell me that you’re going to do the right thing.”

It didn’t sound like an order but somehow it felt like one. 

“I will. But I want it to be kept under wraps for now. I don’t want to scare her. She has some issues with this.”

“Alright. I trust you to take care of them.”

They couldn’t have his spotless image tarnished by a bad soulmate match. It was unsaid but understood. Adrien didn’t really care what the public thought of this but for his own sake he hoped that it would be resolved. 

Once this was done, there was no going back.  

When the evening came and he found himself alone on a rooftop, waiting, he knew that this was the final verdict. Ladybug, who was most probably Marinette, was avoiding him. He didn’t blame her. In her eyes, her old life was over. 

He couldn’t just tell her that he was most probably her soulmate. That he knew who she was. It was dangerous, it was what had been drilled into him over the years. She really cared about this secret. So for her, he would have to work around it. 

He only had one choice now - to try to convince her that Adrien Agreste being her soulmate wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. And hopefully they wouldn’t suffer too much because of it.

Chapter Text

Marinette felt as if she was just going through the motions. She knew that she had to do better because if someone asked why she looked so sad and listless she’d have to lie that she was feeling unwell or something like that. She couldn’t tell them that she’d lost the love of her life. That she had given up on Chat. 

She couldn’t even tell him. It was so bad that she couldn’t look him in the eye. She couldn’t tell him who had turned out to be her soulmate. Not when her parents were so excited for her and she had to play along. Not when she’d agreed to go out with Adrien. 

Every night she forced herself to transform and call him but then chickened out. She knew that if the roles had been reversed she would have been deeply hurt to be ignored, but she couldn’t help it.

They had agreed on this. She wasn’t doing anything behind his back but it still felt like a betrayal. Not to mention that she didn’t trust herself not to run straight into his arms when she saw him.

All she wanted was her old life back and this was the only thing she couldn’t have. 

When an akuma eventually pushed them together, it felt like hell. They were out of sync and Marinette almost lost her Lucky Charm. Which was wrong and dangerous. They still had to be superhero partners. This hadn’t changed. They couldn’t let their personal problems affect this. 

The thing was that she didn’t need to hurry up after the battle. She was an adult, no timer would ever bother her again. So she forced herself to look at him. To really see the hurt in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Chat,” she forced herself to say.

They were the wrong words. She shouldn’t be telling him this. They had been as close as they could be less than a week ago. They knew each other so well. She should be telling him sweet nothings, lost in the familiar embrace instead.

This, standing apart and barely looking him in the eye, was wrong. It made her feel sick.

“It’s not as bad as you thought, right?” He asked gently. Oh no. He wasn’t mad. She would have preferred it if he’d pouted, if he’d been angry. Instead, he was his usual understanding self. He knew what was going on with her even without her telling him. And this only served to break her heart more. 

“It’s him. You somehow got it right,” she spat out, while fighting the tears rising in her throat. She hadn’t cried for days, doing the thing she always did - pretending that if she didn’t notice the chasm in her heart, it would go away. Of course it was being so close to him that made this all so fresh. 

“Oh.” He looked stunned for a moment. 

“I… this is what you wanted, right?” 

He had been noble enough to suggest that if this made her happy, he wouldn’t mind. It was irrational to be mad about this. But she wanted to cling to something. Something that wasn’t the searing pain inside of her. 

“I did,” he nodded slowly. 

“He’s taking me out on a date.” It was another wrong thing to say. Why would he need to know this? It would only hurt him. 

“Good. I really hope it works out.”

What was this irrational desire in her to have him beg her to go back to him instead of this - this calm acceptance and well wishes? 

Marinette decided that she couldn’t do it anymore. Acting like this around him was hell. 

“We can still be friends, right?” She pleaded.

This was wrong, again, in so many ways. But did they have another choice? She didn’t want to feel bitter. He was her best friend. Even if she had to lose him as a boyfriend, she didn’t want to lose him as her friend, her partner. She loved him too much.  

“Yes, of course, m’lady,” he said instantly, his eyes softening. “This won’t change.”

“This is so hard,” she admitted. She could be vulnerable with him. She’d trusted him with so much over the years. She had given him all of her, in every possible way. So she could talk to him instead of putting on a brave face. “I feel like I’m living someone else’s life, not my own. I’m doing what I need to do, but I don’t feel it.”

“Do you know what you can do? Tell him.”

“What?” She asked, confused. 

“Tell him, your soulmate, if you have doubts. He’ll understand. It’s better than lies. You can work through this together and it will bring you closer.”

She knew that. She’d already been pretty upfront with Adrien, as surprising as it had been for her. Then again, she was no longer the shy, insecure girl around him. She had grown up. 

She also knew that Adrien was a great guy. He’d always respect her wishes and never force her into anything. She really didn’t have anything to complain about.

Except that he wasn’t Chat. The one she loved. The one she needed. 

She hadn’t realised that she was crying until Chat finally closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. It hurt, because it was something she wasn’t allowed to enjoy anymore but it also brought instant comfort. Except that it wasn’t enough. Being this close to him only reminded her of how good they had been together. 

Marinette knew that this was wrong. They were friends and should act like that. But she couldn’t stop herself. She kissed him and while the pain was blinding, because the kiss brought with it the reminder of everything she was losing, she couldn’t stop. 

It was so familiar, so sweet like every single kiss they had shared. He didn’t push her back immediately and it gave her a strange sense of victory. But it didn’t change the fact that it was wrong.

Eventually, the surge of energy that had driven her to do this fizzled out and she realised just how wrong it was. What had she been thinking? This would only make things worse.

“Ma… M’lady, please, don’t,” he whispered. 

For a chilling moment it felt as if he knew. As if he was going to call her by her name. But this wasn’t possible, right?  

Except that this would be the cruellest joke. If they found out now when they already knew that they couldn’t be together. 

But of course, it was just her imagination. It was just him not sure how to bring her back to her senses in a gentle way. She shouldn’t be doing this to him. 

“I’m sorry, I just miss you so much,” she said, feeling tears fill her eyes again. 

The pain and sympathy in his eyes were an odd combination. But then he took a deep breath and delivered the final blow. 

“I got my letter a few months ago. I didn’t tell you because…”

“Oh.”

It hurt but it was also the reality check she’d needed.

This was no longer just about her. He also had another life he was accountable for. Which only made her clinging to him, to their past, so much worse. 

She should have noticed. He’d somehow hid the lack of timer from her. Or maybe she’d just ignored it because the implications were too scary. She hadn’t been ready. And he’d known that. Or maybe, just maybe, he had been like her. Doing the wrong thing for her sake. For the sake of a few more moments of happiness. 

“I was a coward, ok? I couldn’t face her and I didn’t want this to end. I’m sorry,” he said, hands nervously raking his hair. He looked wretched. She could understand why. This was about the trust between them. But she could also understand why he’d done it. 

“You’re not much different from me, kitty. I was scared as well,” she gave him a sad smile. “And now?” 

He could be telling her as a reminder that she had other responsibilities now. But she felt that there was more.

“She got me. The thing is that she’s that girl I told you about,” he said slowly. 

Oh, the pain. It only got worse. This other one had a claim on him. One she didn’t have. She’d get to be happy with him, while Marinette watched from the sidelines. 

“I’m happy for you.” She owed it to him to be supportive. Just as much as he was supporting her. 

“I wish it was different, m’lady. You know that. But we’re bound by our secrets and the way our lives are decided for us. It’s the only way, you know that.”

“I do.”

Strangely enough, this conversation gave Marinette the peace of mind she’d craved. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable. She had to put some effort into making this better for herself. 

She called Adrien the next day and they arranged a time to meet up. It was strange when she didn’t have to sneak out. When everyone kind of knew that she had a boyfriend. 

Although it wasn’t official yet. She was willing to give him a chance because Chat had made it clear that he was going to do the same thing with the girl who was his soulmate. Also, it was better than stubbornly sabotaging herself. Not to mention that Adrien didn’t deserve this.

At first, it was awkward. They hadn’t seen each other in years. They had lost touch. They didn’t have much to talk about. 

The funny thing was that her 14-year-old self would have been in heaven. She was on a date with Adrien! But whatever it was that she had felt for him had been buried under too many memories with Chat. Now the hurt prevented it from rising to the surface again. She couldn’t just push it all aside. But if she wanted this to work, it would be a good idea to reconnect with her younger self.

Except that this was different than just having a crush and pining after someone. They were there, practically adults, consciously attempting to make this work. Which was better in a way. 

With this in mind, the next date was better. They brought up their friends and talked about who they kept in touch with. It was kind of fascinating to see how much their lives had changed. Now they were grown up, thinking about what they were going to study. It turned out that once she wasn’t thinking too much about it, talking to Adrien somehow got easier. They had been friends once, just like he’d said. They could make it work. 

She let herself feel this false sense of comfort. And then he made a joke. It was something she’d expected to hear from Chat. Yes, more subdued but it was there. 

She laughed before she could stop herself. Then she looked away, trying not to show that it hurt. 

She wanted to feel more comfortable with Adrien and enjoy her time with him but she also didn’t want to betray Chat by getting closer with him. Which was crazy. This was the whole idea. They had agreed. 

It was also funny how she’d never noticed before how alike the two of them were. Maybe she had a type. Which wasn’t a bad thing or wouldn’t be once she got over the initial surprise. 

Adrien, thankfully, was a real gentleman. He never forced her into anything. It was only gradually that she felt more at ease, that she started having fun and looking forward to the next date and she knew that he sensed the change in her.

So when he eventually asked her for a kiss, she agreed. It would be strange not to. They had been on a few dates after all and she actually enjoyed his company. If they wanted to make this real, just talking wasn’t enough. 

It was a peck, barely a kiss. Which wouldn’t do. Marinette was fine with taking things slow but how were they going to find if they were compatible in any way if they were afraid to be real?

So she kissed him. The way she’d once dreamed of doing. The way she’d only ever kissed Chat. And she expected it to be different. Except that it wasn’t. It felt so familiar and just as good. 

It wasn’t fair. Why did everything have to remind her of Chat? Even the way Adrien kissed her. Was this because they were more similar than she’d expected? Was it her long-forgotten feelings for him finally taking hold? 

Maybe this was normal and she was just overthinking this. But no, it was just too much. 

She’d promised herself to be honest with Adrien so she couldn’t hide it. Not when she could swear that she’d just kissed Chat.

“I can’t do this,” she gasped, taking a step back.

“Marinette, what’s wrong?”

“I… I only see him. I only feel him. I kiss you and I think it’s him. I think I’m going crazy!”

She hadn’t expected the understanding in Adrien’s eyes. She could imagine that he had his limits. Being compared to someone else wasn’t something he should take lightly. A spark of annoyance or even anger made more sense, even for him. Then why did he look resigned as if he'd lost a fight?

And then the worst thing happened. Or maybe it was the best. For the first time, an akuma alert put an end to their time together. Marinette hoped that Adrien wouldn’t find it strange if she left now, after this scene. 

“I have to go, I’m sorry,” she said. 

He surprised her by grabbing her hand and holding her back. 

“I have to tell you something, Marinette.”

Chapter Text

Adrien couldn’t help thinking that the akuma was the sign he’d been waiting for. It was a good excuse as well, if he wanted to put an end to this faster and give Marinette time to recover, but this time he was tired of using excuses.

He had been so happy that things with Marinette were going well. He felt so much closer to making her see that they could actually have a real, fulfilling relationship together. 

For him, it felt wonderful to finally be able to see this other side of Ladybug he’d always been denied access to. Her life, her family, her everyday struggles, her friends. He felt that he knew her better than ever now.
Of course, he also knew that it wasn’t fair that he got to experience this why she kept thinking that Adrien and Chat were two separate people. 

He had waited and had given her space and time. But he’d eventually decided to take a risk. A kiss shouldn’t have been too much, right? Especially not a small, goodbye kiss. It was something they would have to do eventually.

Then again, he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Marinette wasn’t one to do things halfway. It only made sense that once she kissed him, really kissed him, she’d feel how easy and familiar it was. He couldn’t pretend or hold back. Not when he’d longed to kiss her again. 

So he’d messed up. It was confirmed by her reaction and her words. And this was something Adrien couldn’t find a way out of. The distress he felt in her was the final drop for him. 

All the lies he’d had to tell, all this time pretending not to know, had taken a toll on him. He didn’t want to lie to her. He also didn’t think it would make a good foundation for a relationship. But he hadn’t seen a way out. 

Seeing her question her sanity was too much though. He had decided that keeping this secret was no longer worth it. The akuma alert had felt like the perfect opportunity for this. 

He dragged her into a nearby alley and just transformed. Right there, in front of her eyes. He was sure that if he tried to explain things without visual proof, they would be wasting time.
At first, she looked aghast. Maybe a part of her was thinking that she was hallucinating.

“It’s really me,” he said softly, just in case. 

He saw her face change. 

“You know,” she gasped. 

Of course she’d realise this instantly. He had no other reason to transform in front of her, right before an akuma fight. This meant that he knew that she was Ladybug. 

“I’m sorry, m’lady. It was too much of a coincidence. I made the connection when you showed up on your birthday. And then told me you were in love with someone else. And then it turned out that I was the one you’d been in love with before. Even if I had tried to turn a blind eye, I wouldn’t have been able to.”

“Oh God. If I’d paid attention, I would have noticed a pattern as well. But I was just so.. “

Her lips wobbled and she burst into tears. It was the whole thing coming to a boil, he couldn’t blame her. He had also cried when he’d felt helpless. The difference was that there hadn’t been anyone there to comfort him. Which wasn’t true for her.

He had no reason to hold back anymore, so he pulled her into his arms and her head found its place against his collarbone. While she was crying he couldn’t do anything but hold her. It was done. He’d told her. Now all he could do was wait for her reaction. 

All of a sudden, he felt that she was no longer just crying but shaking with laughter as well. Then she finally looked up at him. 

“It is you,” she laughed while tears still streamed down her face. “I’m not going crazy.”

“It’s me,” Adrien chuckled. It might still be the shock, but she at least didn’t look mad. 

“I’m too relieved to be mad. But goodness, how could you do this?” She said as she hastily wiped her cheeks. 

“You insisted, m’lady,” he said gently. He wasn’t trying to put the blame on her, but she knew that if it had ever been up to him, he would have told her who he was years ago. “You didn’t offer for us to reveal our identities. Not before, not after you received your letter. I felt that you’d mind that I found out.”

“And yet you’re telling me now?” She raised an eyebrow. 

“I couldn’t stand it any longer. I thought that I would be able to pull it off. But of course it was too much to expect that you wouldn’t notice the similarities. And seeing you suffer was too much.”

She lifted a hand to his face as if to make sure that he was real.

“You were pushing me towards yourself all this time.”

“It would be funny if I didn’t know how much you were hurting,” he said, nuzzling her hand. 

“How did we get so lucky?” She sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. This was the moment he had been waiting for. For her to realise that they could actually be together now. For real.

“I guess there is some truth in the whole we’re meant to be thing,” he smirked.

“Kitty.” 

“Sorry, I’ve waited too long to say this. I love you.”

She looked torn between laughing and crying and then she just kissed him. It was a desperate and happy kiss at the same time. It was different because they both knew now. It was somehow the best one they had ever shared which spoke volumes. 

“I love you too.”

“I’m glad that we both know now. Lying to you was torture,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “Thank God for the akuma alert.”

“Goodness, the akuma,” she said, jumping back. Quickly she called on Tikki. 

“I guess talking more will have to wait,” Adrien sighed.

“If only we could take Hawk Moth down now so we could actually enjoy our life together,” she said, a hint of longing in her voice. Yes, they knew and they were together. But this wasn’t the end of their troubles. 

“Who knows, maybe he’ll give up. He’ll get sick of our love.”

“Don’t joke about this. We still need to hide.”

“I know. But we agreed some time ago not to worry about the future too much. One step at a time.”

“You’re right.”

He was about to leave, when she continued. 

“Let’s get this wrapped up as fast as possible because a hotel room is waiting for us.”

Adrien felt his pulse speed up at her coy smile. The thought of a whole night with his lady now that they no longer had to hide and making love was no longer just a goodbye was very, very appealing. In fact he wasn’t sure that he was in the mood for fighting now.

“Maybe I should have told you this after we were done with the akuma,” she giggled in response to his expression.

He pulled her back into his arms, placing a hot kiss on her mouth.

“No, this is perfect. Imagine the sexual tension in the air driving the akuma crazy. Hawk Moth would certainly give up soon in the face of that.”

“You’re impossible.” 

“You still can’t resist me,” he winked at her.

“You’re lucky this is true.”

With a final kiss, they left to find the akuma.

2 years later

“See, Marinette, the soulmate thing is not so bad. You ended up with the one you first fell in love with. And you’re now getting married.”

“I know, mum," Marinette smiled as she took the bouquet from her mother.

Of course, she didn’t know that there were a few more steps in her daughter's her love story that she wasn't aware of. But what mattered was the final result.

It was over. Adrien had been right. Hawk Moth had given up and retreated. It had happened at the same time when Adrien’s father had fallen into a deep depression which had forced him to leave Paris. 

Neither Adrien nor Marinette believed in coincidences. But they weren’t willing to face him to demand answers. Let him be. As long as he left them to live their lives in peace.

Adrien had been right about another thing as well. They hadn’t gotten married at 18. If anyone was surprised that they were doing it at 20, they weren’t showing it. For the two of them, it was long overdue anyway. Now that they finally had no reason to be afraid of what the future might hold, they didn’t have to wait any longer. 

Adrien was waiting for her and his face lit up when she walked up to him. 

It was a small ceremony. Now that Gabriel wasn’t there to demand Adrien be in the centre of media attention, he shied away from it. He believed that they deserved privacy after all this time. And he was right, again.

The truth was that Marinette didn’t need anyone else as long as he was there. This was their day. It was about them and the love they had shared for so long. It was about their hope for an even better future, their first step towards a new life together. 

She was happy that her family and friends were there. But she had eyes only for Adrien. Her best friend, her partner, her soulmate and her future husband. 

Yes, fate worked in mysterious ways but in their case, it had given them everything they had ever wanted. They couldn’t ask for more. While to anyone else it might seem like they had found a way to be happy, they knew the truth. It had been meant to be.