Chapter Text
Since Ladybug and Chat Noir decided to split patrols to every other night, things had been so much more exhausting. The aim, however, was for the opposite, so they clearly needed reassessment.
Initially, they could barely function the next day when they patrolled every night, always past 10 p.m. (only so their parents would be asleep and they wouldn't risk walking into empty rooms).
Now that it was every other night, Marinette's sleep schedule was even more messed up, falling asleep at 6 p.m. to wake up at 4 a.m. to be exhausted the next day and wanting to fall asleep again, but having to stay up until 11 p.m. to patrol. The cycle repeated.
Sure, she's a school kid, but she's Ladybug before anything else. She has a duty.
After a stupidly long night of helping find a lost kitten, rescuing a guy with a flattened tyre from the freeway and stopping a burglary. With no akuma in sight, Marinette calls it a night and finally returns home to get some sweet-well-needed sleep.
Opening her trap door, she sighs contently as she flops onto her bed. "Tikki-"
"Ladybug?" The shrill voice halts her actions, and she sits up to stare directly at her chaise, where the voice came from. Two glowing green eyes stare back at her.
"Chat!" She freaks and frantically scrambles down to her floor, rolling over the railing of her bed but swiftly landing on her feet. "What are you doing here?" She hisses and stalks toward him with her hands on her hips.
The catboy is curled up on her chaise lounge with a fluffy blanket and a Ladybug plushie clutched to his chest. He looks adorable - she's going to kill him.
He stands up and meets her stance, his hands on his hips. "I could ask you the same thing!"
He leans over and points a finger at her accusingly, "My Lady, were you about to de-transform in a civilian's room?" He raises an eyebrow, and a smirk suddenly is plastered over his lips. Ladybug's eyes frantically widen; she is going to panic.
Ladybug takes a deep breath to calm herself. She chooses to act the fool. "Chat, Marinette is my friend, and since my house is far on the skirts of Paris, she lets me crash here when my patrol runs late." Ladybug holds her breath after she's said the words, praying that her kitten is still oh-so-naive after her plethora of slip-ups.
Chat stands back, sighs dramatically, and places a hand over his heart. "The betrayal. Oh, how I have been wounded! For thy princess hath relinquished my spot for thy Queen Ladybug."
Ladybug rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, though she's still sceptical about whether that brain of his is ticking or not; she knows he's not dumb. "You should go; I'm going to get Marinette - she's probably downstairs."
Chat scowls and sits down on her chaise lounge. "M'Lady, I've been waiting for Marinette for an hour. I am certainly not leaving!" He crosses his arms and tilts his head to the side.
Ladybug is fuming, her hands balled into fists; she needs to get this cat out of here now. He smirks up at her, "Hey, why don't you go get her, and then we can have a snuggle party?" He suggests, wiggling his eyebrows in delight.
Suddenly, she has an overwhelming urge to call Chat Noir out for being in a civilian's room (hers, nonetheless) past 11 p.m. But she just stares at him and then spins around. Ladybug can't be scolding him for that when she is also in a civilian's room past 11 p.m. (even though it is hers !!!)
"I'm going downstairs to find Marinette," She huffs, then flings the trapdoor open. She hears him pout, and she can't help the small smile that plasters across her lips. Her partner is ridiculous, but she loves him.
She'd told him as Marinette that he was always welcome in her home after the glimpses he'd allowed her to see (well, hear) of his home life. She felt terrible for her kitten, and as his partner, she felt obliged to show him love (even though he didn't know it was her).
Once she's safely in the kitchen with no prying eyes, she drops her transformation and is met with Tikki sitting in her hands.
"That was a good patrol, Marinette. How are you going to get out of this one?" Tikki asks, giggling. Marinette rolls her eyes and reaches over to the cookie jar on the counter. She grabs a single chocolate chip cookie and hands it over to Tikki.
"I have a plan," Marinette declares.
"Of course you do," Tikki sighs, and Marinette rubs her little belly, causing her to giggle softly.
"Ok, hide, Tikki," she gestures to the purse wrapped around her shoulder. Although she was in her pyjamas, she had to carry her purse with her for emergencies, like feeding Tikki.
Tikki happily obliges, and Marinette opens the fridge. Tapping her lips, she grabs the two chocolate eclairs left from dinner and heads upstairs. Hopefully, her parents won't notice the treats are gone.
Arriving back in her room, she smiles when she sees Chat Noir still snuggled up on her chaise lounge, with the blanket and ladybug plushie in his arms. She may have melted a little at the sight.
"Kitty!" she chimes and sits beside him. She holds the plate of eclairs to him, but he's not looking at her, instead pouting off to the side. He seems angry, and Marinette gathers it has something to do with her absence from the room for the past hour. She shoves the plate closer to him, and he looks at it with a side-eye and then a goofy grin plasters across his face.
He picks up an eclair faster than lightning and shoves it in his mouth like he's never been fed. "Mmmm," he moans as he scoffs the entire thing in a single gulp. Then, his angry pout comes back as he crosses his arms. "Princess! Where have you been? I was so worried that you were kidnapped or hurt or dead? Not to mention, you let a random lady in the room, AND YOU'VE BEEN LETTING HER SLEEP IN MY SPOT! WHAT HAPPENED TO STRANGER DANGER?"
Marinette chuckles as she rolls her eyes at his antics. "Ladybug is not a random lady. Chat, she's my friend, just like you, and I want to help her when I can."
Chat Noir frowns a little and almost looks hurt. Marinette doesn't understand why.
"I've been waiting for almost two hours, Mari; what on earth were you doing?" Chat Noir asks, taking the other eclair. Marinette grabs his hand and quickly bites into the other side of the eclair before Chat can reach his mouth.
"Oh no, you did not!"
Marinette pokes her tongue out at him.
"Answer the question, princess ," Chat says with venom in his words.
Marinette sighs and leans backk on her chais., "I was baking; my friends and I are having picnic. tomorrow, and I almost completely forgot."
"A picnic without moi?" Chat Noir feigns dramatics, crossing his arms as he gulps down the last bit of eclair.
Marinette rolls her eyes and rests her head on Chat Noir's lap. "Sorry; no superheroes allowed, but feel free to drop by," she winks at him.
Chat Noir really wants to be mad at his princess right now. Of course, he knows she is lying because Marinette is his best friend out of the suit. He knows she isn't close with the rest of the class, not even Alya anymore (which brought them closer). He's pretty sure she is lying unless Marinette has a whole other friend group she can take picnicking. So yes, he really wants to be mad, but her face is far too damn cute. Ugh, the way she is looking up at him; if she doesn't stop that right now, he might just have to kiss her pouty lips.
Adrien, what are you thinking? She's your friend! Gosh, it's far too late at night.
Chat Noir grumbles and then squints down at her, "Marinette, where did Ladybug go? She said she would get you, and she never came back." He eyes her curiously. Initially, when Ladybug stumbled into Marinette's room, he'd allowed himself to believe that Marinette was her until he remembered multimouse, which had him sighing and pouting ‘cause he was disappointed that Marinette wasn't his lady.
Wait, does that mean-
"Yeah, she came down to the bakery to tell me you were waiting for me, and then she went to the guest room; she was exhausted," Marinette spins.
He suspiciously eyes her again, and Marinette holds her breath, wondering if he will buy it.
Then his face turns into a smug grin, "Can we go say goodnight to Ladybug and have a slumber party?" He asks.
Marinette bursts out laughing, "Absolutely not!"
Chat frowns, "Why not?"
"Because, like I said, she's exhausted and doesn't want to be disturbed," Marinette says, shaking her head at her kitty.
Chat Noir crosses his arms and pouts. "Fine. But you owe me snuggles and a movie."
"Deal," Marinette agrees and cups his cheeks, bringing her lips to meet his right cheek and planting a soft kiss with an exaggerated 'muah!'
Thankfully for Chat Noir, Marinette does not have night vision, so she doesn't see his scarlet blush.
She drags him to her bed, Marinette sits her laptop on her lap, and Chat Noir cuddles beside her. "I saw a movie with Alya a few months ago, it was really good, called 'Isn't it romantic'? I think you'd like it," Marinette says, not looking up to gaze at Chat's reaction.
"Ahhh, is my purrincess trying to romance me?" he purrs against her ear.
Marinette tilts her head away from him slightly, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks, "No, but I will strangle you if you don't shut up," she hisses back. Still, Chat can see how her blush spreads across from cheek to cheek, highlighting the freckles brushed along them and on her cute little button nose.
He smiles smugly at himself; he likes to make Marinette Dupain-Cheng blush. Something he is very good at doing as Adrien, but ever since they had grown closer, she didn't do it as often, really only when he compliments her. Which is quite often - he’s now reeling; it’s just so easy to compliment Marinette.
Marinette starts playing the movie and snuggles up against Chat more until they are both quite comfortable in each other's arms. She will never admit it, but she really loves this. She plays the movie, and the two watch it in comfortable silence, laughing, ooo-ing, and awww-ing at the right times.
When the movie finishes, Marinette shuts her laptop and places it below their feet at the end of the bed. "You're right, princess; that was a good movie," Chat yawns.
Marinette giggles, "I knew you would like it."
"What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic," he remarks and threads his fingers with hers. If Marinette isn't already bright red at the action, she certainly is when he brings her hand up to his lips and places a kiss against the back of her hand. His soft lips are so warm against her skin. She feels a warmth engulf her chest. "Un furr tunately, I have to depart from my lovely purrincess as this cat has school tomorrow, and so do you," he says.
Marinette sighs and gives Chat Noir one last hug. "Thanks for keeping me company, kitty," she hums against his chest. Chat smiles as he rakes his fingers through her hair and kisses the top of her head. She's lucid, barely awake - he must be just as tired with how touchy he's been tonight.
"You're welcome, Marinette," He whispers and looks up through her skylight.
Once Chat Noir climbs safely through his window, he flops on his bed and detransforms.
Plagg comes flying out of his ring and lands on the pillow beside him. "You said ONE HOUR!" Plagg yells, huffing and puffing. "That was like FOUR!"
Adrien rolls his eyes, "I didn't even use my cataclysm - what's got your whiskers twisted?"
Plagg takes a deep breath and pulls the camembert from under Adrien's pillow, which shuts him up as he greedily gobbles it down. Adrien just sighs, looking up at the ceiling. "Marinette wasn't in her room when I got there, which scared me, and then, for some reason, Ladybug showed up; it was so weird!"
Plagg munches down on the rest of his camembert and then starts laughing.
"What?" Adrien asks.
"Nothing, you're just really blond."
"Har har, anyways, I'm not done. Ladybug said that Marinette let her crash at her house occasionally. Like what? Can you believe that? Marinette never mentioned that my lady was sleeping on the same chaise I do every other night! Why wouldn't she tell me????" Adrien freaks.
"First of all. Blond. Second of all, maybe Marinette was trying to protect her identity," Plagg suggests cryptically, wondering how far he can push his holder.
"Yeah, I suppose so, but Marinette and I are so close, why wouldn't she tell me about Ladybug? Do you really think Ladybug told Marinette her identity?"
Plagg groans, hoping that Adrien would catch on to his suggestion. "BLOND!" Plagg screams and then dives under his little pillow.
"Plagg?" Adrien asks.
"I'm not talking to you anymore; goodnight!" Plagg replies.
Adrien sighs and leans back on his pillow. He often wondered if Ladybug and Marinette would get along, his two best friends, one outside the mask and one inside. He always thought about how fun it would be to introduce them to each other, but it seems they've already made friends behind his back, and he can't help but feel a little hurt that he was omitted. He sighs dramatically.
"Adrien shut the fuck up and go to sleep," Plagg says hastily. Adrien rolls his eyes and turns over to the other side of the bed.
He still can't believe Marinette never told him. It may be petty, but he doesn't like the idea of Marinette permitting his lady to crash at the same place he does... like he can be replaced.
He sighs again, and he feels the kwami hovering above him. "Plagg..." Adrien whispers.
"What?" he hisses back.
"Do you think Marinette likes Ladybug better than me?" He asks.
The small black god hits his tiny paw to his face and sighs, "I don't know, kid, it depends on how vain she is."
Adrien creases his eyebrows and looks at the kwami questioningly. Though he doesn't ask questions, he is too tired to fully comprehend the gibberish he spouted.
Plagg glares at Adrien almost angrily, "Why do you care anyway? Weren't you the one suggesting that the three of you cuddle?"
Adrien feels his face heat up; he never knew Plagg could hear everything while he was transformed. To be fair, technically, Plagg is the suit. "I was just teasing," Adrien blows out the breath he didn't realise he was holding.
Plagg plasters a mischievous grin over his face. " I bet you'd date them both if you could."
"Shut up, Plagg!" Adrien hisses. "I-it's not like that!" he sighs, then continues. "Ladybug and Marinette are my best friends, and finding out that they've been friends all along hurts. They're both incredible; what if they realise how lame I am and go off and fall in love with each other and leave me behind?" he wails.
Plagg groans into his pillow again, then takes a deep breath and faces Adrien. "Adrien, you're getting worked up over nothing. Give yourself more credit. My kitten is awesome, and if she can't see that, she doesn't deserve you!" He parades, then crosses his nubs, one over the other.
Adrien feels himself tear up at Plagg's words. It might've been the kindest thing Plagg has ever said to him. "Oh, Plagg!" He sobs.
"Ew, stop that right now!" Plagg commands, making Adrien chuckle.
"Come here!" Adrien says, reaching out to Plagg with pouty lips. Plagg tries to squirm away, but Adrien grabs him quicker and plants a sloppy kiss on the little black cat's head. "I love you, Plagg." Adrien cooes.
"Yeah, yeah, now go to bed! You still have to go to school tomorrow!"
Adrien sighs and then lies back on his pillow. Suddenly, his phone buzzes at his side table, and he reaches out to grab it. As his eyes adjust to the light, he sees the time on the top of the screen: 2:32 a.m., and a notification from Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He smiles as he opens his phone and presses on her contact.
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:32 AM]
We're having a picnic tomorrow.
He smiles and shakes his head softly. Maybe Marinette had been cooking in the bakery so they could go on a picnic tomorrow, or perhaps she was only doing this to put Chat Noir at ease. Either way, he smirked as he began typing back.
...Date? 😏
No, no, no, Adrien, too far. She doesn't like you like that! You don't like her like that... heh... right?
[To: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:33 AM]
What's the occasion?
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:33 AM]
no occasion! just wanted to have a picnic 😆
[To: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:33 AM]
lol, y r u telling me this at 2 a.m.?
u cdve told me this tmr, silly
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:34 AM]
couldn't sleep!!!!! :(
[To: Mon eyes <3 @ 2:34 AM]
samsiesss
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:34 AM]
yur a dork
[To: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:34 AM]
but u love me 🙄
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:34 AM]
ugh, hate it when you're right 🙄
[Text To: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:35 AM]
awwww, I love you too.
NOW GO TO BED, OR YOU WON'T WAKE UP!
I'll be there with a hot chocolate ;)
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:35 AM]
yes, yes, my hero :)
[To: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:35 AM]
gn moon eyes <3
[From: Moon eyes <3 @ 2:35 AM]
night night, sunshine <3
Adrien smiles contently and puts his phone back on the nightstand. A warm feeling fills his chest, and he can't keep the smile off his face.
For a fleeting moment, he lets himself believe this is what love could feel like. Safe. Effortless. Real.
The only other time he had felt like this was with his lady–
But he can't be in love with Marinette. Friends cuddle, right? They text each other late at night, saying, "I love you," and message each other with love hearts and smiley faces. Friends do that.
He doesn't have a crush on Marinette. She is his friend, a friend who makes him giddy with happiness; for once, he doesn't feel so alone. He can talk to her about anything and everything. Just... a friend.
"I don't have a crush on Marinette," He whispers repeatedly. "I don't have a crush on Marinette. I don't have a crush on Marinette. I don't..."
Perhaps telling himself that over and over again will make it true.
"I don't have a crush on Marinette."
Perhaps telling himself that will rid his mind of her twinkling blue eyes.
"I don't have a crush on Marinette."
Perhaps telling himself that will make him forget about the dusting of freckles that splash over her button nose.
"I don't have a crush on Marinette!"
Perhaps telling himself that will force him to stop thinking about how her lips curve into a smile as her laughter fills the room and his heart entirely—coming from those pink, plump, oh-so-kissable lips.
"Oh my god," Adrien groans, stuffing his face into his pillow as his cheeks heat up and his stomach churns with excitement and anxiety. "I have a crush on Marinette."
"Ha, took you to look enough!" Plagg snorts from beside him.
"Plagg," Adrien whispers again.
"Yes, love-struck disaster?"
"This is so much worse than being akumatised."
"Yeah," Plagg sighs dramatically. "You're totally doomed."