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Marinette and Adrien were inseparable. Over the years, their friendship had grown into a safe haven for them both. They shared laughter, secrets, and dreams. But what Adrien didn’t know was that Marinette had been hopelessly in love with him for a long time.
Or so she thought she’d moved past it.
Adrien, on the other hand, no longer dreamed of Ladybug as he once did. He’d accepted that the idealized love he had for the heroine was unattainable. Now, he wanted something real—someone to share moments, glances, and touches with. And the more time he spent with Marinette, the more he realized she might be that person.
A Night on the Rooftop
“I love how you always know the right words to cheer me up,” Adrien said, leaning against the railing as they watched the lights of Paris.
Marinette let out a nervous laugh, toying with the end of her braid. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Maybe,” he replied, turning to her with a soft look. “But with you, it feels like more than that.”
A shiver ran down Marinette’s spine. His voice was serious—almost too honest.
“More?” she whispered, trying to keep her tone steady.
Adrien smiled, leaning in slightly. “Yes. More.”
Her heart pounded like a drum. Could it be that he...? No, she was surely misinterpreting.
“Adrien, we’re friends,” she said quickly, stepping back.
“I know. But what if I want to be more than that?” The intensity in his gaze pinned her in place.
Marinette froze. She knew she should create distance, but her body refused to move.
“Don’t be silly,” she tried to joke.
Adrien wasn’t deterred. He stepped closer. “It’s not silly, Marinette. I like you. More than I ever thought I could like someone.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her mind was at war with her heart. Then she saw it—that look in his eyes. The longing to be loved, a feeling she recognized so well because she felt it too.
“Tell me you don’t feel anything,” Adrien urged, his voice soft but firm.
That was the moment her restraint shattered. Before she could think twice, she grabbed his shirt and kissed him.
It was a fiery, desperate kiss, full of emotions that had been bottled up for far too long. Adrien froze at first, shocked by Marinette’s intensity, but within seconds he kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and deepening the kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless.
“Wow...” Adrien murmured, a grin spreading across his face that he couldn’t seem to wipe away.
“I’m sorry,” Marinette stammered, her cheeks burning.
“Why?” Adrien cupped her face in his hands, looking at her with tenderness. “That was amazing.”
She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her.
“You’re intense,” he whispered. “And I love it.”
This time, Marinette didn’t feel like running. Instead, she kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the moment.
Adrien kissed her back with the same passion, as if they’d just opened the door to a love that had been waiting far too long to be discovered.