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Adrien lay back on his bed, two memories overlapping themselves in his head.
“I’m under a lot of stress, Chat,” Ladybug said. “Keeping my identity a secret has been really hard.”
“I wanted to tell you,” Adrien said over his shoulder, looking back to Marinette. “Rose was right earlier. You’re always helping people,”
Chat gave Ladybug a friendly smile. “I think I know how you feel, m’Lady. I’m running out of excuses for when I need to sneak away.”
“Like that day you helped Juleka overcome her class photo curse;”
Ladybug shook her head. “It’s not just that. I just about had a panic attack over it, a while back.”
“Or when you partnered Nathaniel and Marc together to make that comic book;”
Chat wasn’t sure what to say to that. He found himself frowning as he put one hand over Ladybug’s, trying to reassure her.
“Or when you helped me get to the movies so I could see my mother on screen.”
“Someone close to me tried to give me a compliment,” she explained.
“That’s why everyone jumped at the chance to help you with the picnic- so today, it was our turn to help you.”
Adrien swallowed, as the last line of each scene echoed one another.
“By calling me an everyday Ladybug.” “You’re our everyday Ladybug.”
It was hardly proof. Marinette had been Multimouse, after all- Chat had seen her with Ladybug. With his own two eyes.
And yet- it seemed to fit almost too well. There were only a few things keeping Adrien from believing it with his whole heart- Multimouse being one of them.
Adrien found himself reflecting on the brunch he’d shared with Marinette and her parents, as Chat Noir. Marinette had admitted to having feelings for Chat, while Ladybug only ever turned him down.
Then again, all the other miraculous holders - chosen by Ladybug - were people he (and Marinette) knew personally. Sure, a lot of them had been circumstantial- choosing people who were showing bravery when their loved ones were in danger or akumatized- yet somehow almost all of them were in Adrien’s (and Marinette’s) class. Even himself- Ladybug had tried to make him Aspik, once. In fact, the first miraculous holder not in their class wouldn’t be one, if Adrien had been able to accept the snake miraculous. Well, there was Kagami- but didn’t they always say that the exception proved the rule?
Marinette and Ladybug seemed so different . Ladybug was confident, self-assured, and graceful in a way that Marinette definitely wasn’t. And yet, they were so similar. Brave, selfless, compassionate. All the things that had led Adrien to calling Marinette an ‘everyday Ladybug’ in the first place.
Then there was the idea that surely the universe didn’t have that much of a sense of humour. On occasion, Adrien had considered who he might be interested in if he managed to let go of Ladybug. Once, he’d even gone on a date with Kagami- but in the months since, he realized that if Ladybug could be replaced in his heart, only one person could do it- Marinette.
Adrien groaned. Then, he made a list.
- How do I explain Multimouse?
- Why does Marinette like Chat Noir, when Ladybug doesn’t?
- Other than Multimouse, does Marinette have any alibis for times Ladybug was around?
- Clara Nightingale’s music video auditions- I didn’t have a choice, but Marinette did. Is there any explanation why Ladybug might be willing to risk her identity?
- Who’s the boy that Ladybug always turns me down for? I didn’t think Marinette liked anyone that way.
- Is it plausible Ladybug had time to be Marinette- or vice versa- the times I saw them soon after each other?
- What happened during the Oblivio incident?
The last question wasn’t entirely relevant, per se, but it still loomed in his mind. All Adrien could remember was himself and Ladybug on the rooftop, almost out of time in their transformations. One of Oblivio’s blasts was about to hit her, so he took the shot- then, the two were suddenly kissing- Oblivio was defeated, the akuma purified. Master Fu had actually admitted that during the incident, they found out each other’s identities. Since the time wasn’t yet right, the miraculous cure had taken away their memories of that time.
Adrien considered his list for a while. He’d expected more, to be honest- was there really that little stopping Marinette from being Ladybug? Sure, the first one was a pretty big problem, but still.
“What are you writing this time, kid?”
The voice startled Adrien, who had thought himself to be alone in his room. When he saw Plagg was the source of the interruption, Adrien let himself relax.
“I was thinking about Marinette,” Adrien started to say, when a thought struck him. Plagg knew Ladybug’s identity, just as Tikki knew Adrien’s. Would Plagg help him? Try to hinder him? There was no telling, really.
“What about her?” Plagg asked. “Are you going to ask her for more pastries for me?”
Adrien smirked. It was only natural that the first thing on Plagg’s mind would be food. “You really like her baking, huh,” Adrien observed.
“I keep telling you, kid. You need to lock her down before someone beats you to it.”
A thought occurred to Adrien. “Remember when you suggested I keep two pots simmering?” he asked, barely hiding the amusement in his voice. “I might be ready to put the second pot on.”
‘I just hope I’m right that it’s only one pot,’ Adrien thought to himself.
At the same time, Plagg was thinking ‘ If only you knew they’re the same pot.’
Message History
Alya Césaire & Nino Lahiffe
Nino: Als, remember that promise I made?
Nino: Not to tell Adrien about Mari’s crush?
Alya: What about it, turtle boy?
Nino: Adrien asked me if Marinette likes anyone.
Alya: !!!
Alya: His EXACT words, please
Nino: “Do you know if Marinette is interested in anyone?”
Alya: Did you tell him?
Nino: I’m pretending I haven’t seen the text yet.
Alya: Good boy.
Alya: Okay.
Alya: “I’m not sure, but I could ask Alya for you. Why do you want to know?”
Nino: If I’m gonna let you use me to meddle, you owe me cuddles.
Nino: He says he’s just curious.
Nino: Those are his words. “Just curious”
Alya: Hm. Don’t reply just yet.
Alya: If he tells you to ask me, you agree to do so.
Alya: Then you can tell him “Alya said she’s into someone, but wouldn’t say who.”
Alya: Make sure you wait after agreeing before you tell him my answer.
Nino: Consider it done.
Nino: What if he doesn’t get me to ask you?
Alya: If he hasn’t replied in a few hours, just let him know you asked me anyway.
Nino: Done and done.
Nino: “Thanks for the scoop”
Nino: That’s all he said.
Nino: I don’t like that he isn’t sharing.
Nino: He’s hiding something, I can feel it.
Nino: Alya, you’d better just be asleep and not chasing an akuma.
Nino: You know I love you but you need to stop putting yourself in danger like this.
Nino: You’re going to make me go grey
Alya: Relax. No akumas, as far as I know.
Alya: I was having dinner with the fam.
Alya: You know we have a no phones rule.
Nino: So what do you think Adrien is up to?
Alya: Hopefully?
Alya: He likes Marinette, and we can set them up.
Alya: Realistically?
Alya: He’s probably trying to do something nice for her, and somehow that info plays into it.
Nino: You know, if he was just trying to do something nice he’d probably tell me about it.
Nino: There has to be a reason he isn’t telling me.
Alya: Don’t get my hopes up, car
Alya: Maybe he wants to do something for the class, or our little group.
Alya: Because it’s for you as well, he isn’t sharing.
Nino: maybe
Nino: hold up
Nino: “Is it Chat Noir?”
Alya: Um.
Alya: “Alya said it was someone she actually knows, not a celebrity crush.”
Nino: …
Nino: “I don’t need to know who, per se, but does Alya know who it is?”
Alya: What on earth is going on
Alya: Tell him yes, Alya knows who it is
Adrien smiled. Alya didn’t know about Chat’s visits to Marinette, he was sure of that. So if Alya knows who Marinette has feelings for, and described it as ‘not a celebrity crush,’ then it couldn’t possibly be Chat.
Of course, that wasn’t entirely good news. On the one hand, it helped the case for Marinette being Ladybug- and for that matter, explained why Marinette took Chat’s refusal so well. On the other paw, however, it meant that Adrien had competition.
Adrien looked back to his list.
- How do I explain Multimouse?
- Why does Marinette have feelings for Chat Noir, when Ladybug doesn’t?
Other than Multimouse, does Marinette have any alibis for times Ladybug was around?
From what I can tell, no. I can’t exactly dig into the past without making people suspicious- so we’ll just pay more attention in future.
- Clara Nightingale’s music video auditions- I didn’t have a choice, but Marinette did. Is there any explanation why Ladybug might be willing to risk her identity?
Not sure. She refused the role until Chloé was offered it- is that relevant? I know she and Chloé don’t exactly get along, especially back then.
Who’s the boy that Ladybug always turns me down for? I didn’t think Marinette liked anyone that way, other than Chat.
Not sure who, but I have confirmation Marinette likes someone.
Is it plausible Ladybug had time to be Marinette- or vice versa- the times I saw them soon after each other?
If anyone could pull it off, it’s Ladybug.
- What happened during the Oblivio incident?
Adrien found himself replaying a moment in his head. The time he first found out Marinette had a crush on Chat Noir.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you right after Ladybug has transformed back. Could it be that you’re-”
‘A fan of mine,’ he’d been about to say. Adrien tried to flip the moment in his mind.
I leave August with Ladybug, since she has more time than I do. I vault away, though not as far as Ladybug thinks. I land at my destination, and transform back.
Ladybug appears right after I transform, though she didn’t see it happen.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you right after Chat Noir has transformed back,” Ladybug says.
Gods, I’d want to act quickly so she doesn’t figure me out. I’d try to give her another explanation before she realizes I’m Chat. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to think of anything- but Marinette’s smart enough. Ladybug’s smart enough. They- she, would think of something. Like a false confession of love.
It was a brilliant idea, actually. She’d know Chat would turn her down, because of his feelings for Ladybug. The only reason I didn’t do it there and then was because I got pressured into that brunch by her dad.
Adrien found himself smiling as he crossed another question off his list. That left him with only three.
- How do I explain Multimouse?
- Clara Nightingale’s music video auditions- I didn’t have a choice, but Marinette did. Is there any explanation why Ladybug might be willing to risk her identity?
- What happened during the Oblivio incident?
The second was mostly answered- though something about it didn’t quite sit right for Adrien. He didn’t think Ladybug would really risk her identity over a grudge against Chloé. Then again, Ladybug had made a few heat-of-the-moment mistakes when it came to people who- come to think of it, people who didn’t treat Marinette all that well.
The first time was when Ladybug didn’t heed Chloé’s advice about Vanisher’s akumatized object. The second, was Ladybug’s confrontation of Lila. For that matter, Ladybug had been quick to escape Chloé’s company when she and Chat were standing guard for The Evillustrator. Sure, Ladybug was warming up to Chloé these days- but the whole reason Adrien was thinking of it was an incident that had happened a while ago.
The more he thought about it, the more Adrien felt confident that Marinette’s actions the day of Frightningale were consistent with her being Ladybug. She’d turned down the role at first, as he’d expect Ladybug would. Her frustration with Chloé led to her accepting, and it wasn’t until after that Marinette would’ve noticed how realistic the costumes were. In fact, her Ladybug mask went mysteriously missing the same way he’d made it seem his Chat Noir mask had done.
With a grin, Adrien crossed out the penultimate hurdle.
Chat bounded across the Paris rooftops, following Ladybug.
It had become routine over the last few months to meet up the evening after an akuma fight, to debrief. More recently, they had decided to spend the time patrolling the city as they chatted. The idea had been a good one- many of the citizens of Paris seemed to feel safer seeing Ladybug and Chat Noir watching over them.
He and Ladybug didn’t need to talk about the akuma tonight- it was just Mr. Ramier again- but that didn’t stop them from meeting up. Alya had noticed the pattern to their patrols, and Parisians might be concerned if it seemed Ladybug and Chat hadn’t kept it up. Chat appreciated this, as it gave him an opportunity to ask the question that had been nagging at him all week. As he followed Ladybug along their usual route, Chat found himself wondering how he might phrase his question.
“M’Lady,” Chat eventually said, causing her to stop.
The pair landed on a rooftop together to talk- not too far from the Dupain-Cheng bakery, Chat realized.
Chat took a breath, straightening the words out in his mind. “Have you ever considered using your position as guardian to help keep your identity as Ladybug safe?”
Ladybug just looked at him, confused.
“I mean, you have access to all the kwamis, right?” Chat asked, trying to explain. “So you could use Trixx if you wanted to, so you and your civilian identity can appear in the same place.”
Ladybug smirked. It was a sight that made Chat feel a bit like an akuma she was facing down. “That’s a good idea, Chat,” she said, a hint of amusement to her voice. “But now if I do that, it would give you a hint to who I am.”
Chat swallowed- if he was wrong about Marinette? If Ladybug hadn’t thought of using Trixx before? He’d just taken away that option from his bugaboo. He tried to stammer out an apology, but the words wouldn’t come.
“It’s okay, mon Chatton,” Ladybug whispered. She placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him in for a hug. “I trust you enough to take that risk if I have to. You probably wouldn’t notice it happen, anyway.”
Chat let a smile grow upon his face at the reassurance. It warped into a full-on grin when Ladybug added another comment.
“For all you know, maybe it's already happened.”