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Chat Noir and Ladybug were sitting on a rooftop, having their usual debrief the evening after an akuma attack. Today's fight had been a rematch with Glaciator - otherwise known as André, the sweetheart's ice cream maker. Because of this, Chat Noir had something on his mind.
"Ladybug," Chat said, not sure if he should say anything.
"What's on your mind?" she asked simply.
Chat Noir caught himself rubbing the back of his neck. He'd been chided more than once in his civilian form for having such an obvious tell, and the thought made him flinch a little.
Ladybug must have sensed Chat's unease - even before he'd flinched, she had her hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"You can tell me, Chat. We're a team." She said it so easily, yet with so much compassion in her voice.
Chat took a breath, deciding not to think any more about how to say it - and instead just do the saying. He'd opened up to Ladybug about his feelings before, more than once. She'd always been kind about it, and always turned him down. At worst, this time would be no different. At best...
"A while ago," he explained, "I wrote a love poem to you." He couldn't look at Ladybug when he said this, fearing the look on her face would dissuade him from continuing. "I never did anything with it- I actually threw it out as soon as I wrote it. It just seemed like it wasn't the right way to admit my feelings."
Ladybug was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked kindly, adding "We've had this discussion before."
"I think you sent a reply," Chat explained, finally looking to Ladybug. Seeing her confusion, he continued. "I got a love poem in the mail shortly after," he said, searching her eyes for a
reaction. "It seemed like a reply to the one I wrote to you. It-" he paused, swallowing hard. "It felt like it had to be from you."
Ladybug's expression was as inscrutable as ever. Chat often wondered if it was part of the Miraculous' ability to keep its user from being recognized, or a natural poker face. At last, she spoke.
"If you wouldn't mind," she said, looking out over Paris, "could you tell me the poem?"
Chat Noir paused, struggling for a brief moment to figure out why she might be asking. Drawing a blank, he relented. He closed his eyes, searching his mind for the words he had written all those months ago.
"Your hair is dark as night," he began. "Your pretty bluebell eyes.
"I look at you and wonder who is under your disguise.
"Every time we see each other, I hope that you'll be mine.
"Together our love could be so true - Please will you be my valentine?"
Chat opened his eyes, scanning Ladybug's face. Far from inscrutable, she had a clear look of shock. Before Chat could even begin to wonder why, Ladybug spoke.
"Your hair shines like the sun," she said, her voice full of wonder. As she spoke, she looked to Chat's hair, as if seeing it for the first time.
"Your eyes are gorgeous green," Ladybug continued, looking Chat in the eyes as she did.
Some type of realization was dawning on her, Chat could tell. What he didn't know was what it could be. It seemed almost like she was noticing these parts of him - an affection for him - for the first time. But if she had written the response - which she was now reciting - surely she'd had these thoughts when she wrote it?
Ladybug recited further, her voice barely a whisper. "I look at you and wonder your innermost thoughts and dreams." As she spoke the line, her mouth grew into a smile. She looked at him with a kind of love Chat had never seen on her face before.
"Yes, your valentine I will be. Our love will be so true-" Ladybug's confidence grew as she continued. "-together for eternity,"
Ladybug paused, a smirk drawing itself upon her face. "Signed your sweet bugaboo," she finished. A slight alteration to the original reply, but Chat Noir liked it even more this way.
He had a million questions, of course. He'd received that poem when they'd only been working together a few months. Since then, Ladybug had turned him down time and time again. None of this made sense to Chat, but before he could say as much he snapped back to the present moment as he felt Ladybug put her arms around him.
She pulled Chat close, and the two melted into a kiss.
Chat took some time, even after they broke away, to enjoy the moment. Ladybug was the one to break the silence.
"I did write the reply," she said, a smirk on her face. "But I wasn't thinking of Chat Noir when I did."
Chat could only stare blankly. Nothing about this was computing. He didn't dare question the results, though.
"Would you like to know who I was thinking of?" Ladybug asked slyly.
Chat Noir could only manage a meek nod.
The next few phrases Ladybug uttered would send Chat on a whirlwind rollercoaster of emotions.
"I was writing to the boy I liked. The one I kept turning you down for."
No- But- The kiss- And-
"I was writing-"
Who? Why? What? The kiss-
"-to Adrien Agreste."
Suddenly everything fell into place. When he'd written the poem, and thrown it away, someone must have seen him. He'd done it at school, the idiot!
The reply came in the mail, with piles upon piles of cards for him as Adrien - not for him as Chat.
He had been cockblocking himself for as long as he'd known Ladybug.
But- how did Ladybug come across the original poem? How did she know Adrien had written it?
As if sensing his thoughts, Ladybug put her hands to her Miraculous. Adrien - Chat - watched silently.
"I'd rather do this without my kwami," she said. "So I won't say the words."
Ladybug paused, giving Chat a once-over. "I still can't believe it's you," she breathed. "That you're- Adrien."
Chat resolved to process everything later. For now, Ladybug had the floor.
"Ever since I met you - as Adrien - I've loved you.
"I could never work up the nerves to tell you how I felt.
"I had almost given up trying. Almost given up on Adrien to consider Chat instead...
Ladybug smiled, looking down.
A pause.
"Tikki knew!" Ladybug exclaimed suddenly, making Chat flinch. "That sly little..."
Chat knew how she felt. He hadn't quite put the last pieces together, but he knew Plagg had been playing him like a fiddle. The coy kwami found so much amusement in his romantic struggles.
Ladybug shook her head, laughing. "I fell for you hard, Adrien Agreste. From the very moment-"
Hands returned to earrings
"-That you gave me that-"
Ladybug hadn't paused, but for Chat time seemed to stand still. Ladybug had removed her earrings, was setting them aside. The mask and suit was beginning to disappear, and he could feel his heartrate going through the roof.
It felt like an eternity before the mask fully vanished, taking the spell with it that disguised Ladybug's identity.
Marinette finished her sentence; "-umbrella."
Chat Noir beamed. He had fallen in love, twice, with the same person. He was ecstatic, overjoyed. He was furious - with Plagg - to recall a comment about 'keeping two pots simmering.' He was annoyed with himself for being so oblivious. Amazed, when he recalled Marinette's even-keeled reaction to being called an 'everyday Ladybug.' Almost every emotion in the book flashed through Adrien's mind. He was certain that Ladybug- Marinette- could read all of them like a book.
Adrien started to whisper something. "Plagg, claws-" but Marinette- Ladybug- put a hand to his lips.
"Do you really want Plagg to intrude on this moment?" she asked, taking Chat Noir's hand. She- Ladybug!- Marinette!- kissed the back of his hand, and held his Miraculous in place.
"May I?" she asked. Adrien nodded, and Marinette- Ladybug!- removed the ring, placing it beside her earrings on the ground. As the magical outfit began to disappear, they kissed again.