Unknown Love

A Third Choice

Marinette

It's been three days since the last akuma attack.
So I'm not entirely surprised when I hear the alert from my computer while I'm sewing more T-shirts for Kitty Section.

"Tikki Spots On!" I say, standing up and climbing out the hatch over my bed to get out of my room once I've transformed. I look around for a second before heading in the direction of the screams, when in doubt, follow either carnage or fear to find your target.

When I get there, Cat Noir is already fighting the villain. Though once he notices me he slips away and comes to my side.
"Evening Milady." He smirks
"Charming as always Kitty," I joke. "What do you know?"
"I'm pretty sure the Akuma is in the snake ring on her right index finger."
"Do we know why she was akumatized?" I ask while studying our target as best I can. He's right, her power seems to come from a tiny little snake ring on her right hand.
"From all the shrieking she's been doing? Nearest I can figure, her boyfriend lied to her and said he was Viperion. Somehow she figured out that he isn't and got angry enough that Hawk Moth akumatized her."
"Poor girl thought she was dating a superhero. That must've been heart crushing." I murmur
"What must've been heart crushing?" comes a voice from behind me, making me jump. Luckily, it's just Viperion. I give a small sigh of relief and quickly explain to him what's going on.

"So you think that if I walk out there, she'll calm down because she has a thing for me?" He sums up.
"I'd calm down if I was akumatized and Milady came to my rescue." Cat Noir jokes from the side.
I shoot him a glare before focusing on Viperion again. "Yes. Think about it, you can use your lyre to get her attention, and if anything goes wrong you have your Second Chance."
He nods. "Alright."
Cat Noir grins crookedly. "Looks like you're the bait this time, Snake."
Viperion shoots him a smirk. "Can't think of a good name for me, Kitty?"

I roll my eyes at the both of them. In the beginning, Viperion was quiet, speaking only when he needed to. But as the three of us got more comfortable around each other, he started to speak up more often, and even join in when I tease Cat Noir.
Cat Noir's beginning to protest when I cut him off by calling in my lucky charm, thinking for a minute or two before turning to them.
"Okay, here's the plan."

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Once the girl was saved, Cat Noir volunteered to take her home, leaving Viperion and I to go home as well. As he turns to leave, I call out.
"Viperion, wait!" my earrings flash, reminding me I don't have much time.
He looks towards me. "Yeah?"
"Meet me at the top of the Eiffel Tower at 9 tonight. I need your advice about something." I say quickly.
He looks surprised but nods. "Alright Ladybug, see you later." He runs across the rooftops and disappears from my sight. I throw my Yoyo and head home.

I get into my room just as I run out of time and I detransform. Sitting on my bed, I pull a macaroon out for Tikki, which she happily accepts and eats.
"Hurry Marinette, you have your date with Viperion in less than an hour!"
I squeak at the time and blush at her insinuation. "It's not a date Tikki!"
"A nighttime talk between just the two of you at the top the Eiffel Tower, the most romantic place in the city if you can get there? Seems like a date to me."
I blush more. "Whatever. Tikki Spots on!"

When I get to the Eiffel Tower, Viperion is there and waiting for me.
"Sorry I kept you waiting Vi." I say without thinking, blushing once I realize my choice of words
What am I saying? Calling Viperion by a nickname, asking him to meet me in private, and on the Eiffel Tower? What's going on with me?
He just smiles. "Hello Ladybug, what was it you wanted to talk about?"
I start, remembering why I'd asked him here in the first place. "I'm having a bit of a.. heart problem."
"Physical or emotional?" He asks, walking over and standing next to me
"Emotional. There's a few guys I like, but I don't know how to choose between them." I say eventually, leaning against the railing and looking out at the skyline.
"What are they like?" He asks, surprising me.
I think for a second, I don't want to accidentally expose my secret identity, so I choose to give the bare minimum.
"One is a dear friend, but he loves someone else. But another one.. he loves me, if what he said to me was really a declaration of love. The third, I've only recently started liking him, so I don't know much." I say, choosing my words carefully.
Viperion puts a hand on my shoulder. "If you're ladybug, then you must be an amazing person, even as a civilian. So much if the first one couldn't see how amazing you surely are, he's not worth you." He says, making me blush.
"Thanks Viperion, that helps me a lot." I smile and kiss his cheek gently.

He blinks, as if surprised, before smiling at me again and standing on the railing. "I'll see you next Akuma Milady."

By the time I get home, my heart is slightly less confused.
But now it's divided in two.
Now I have to choose between Viperion and Luka.