Hiraeth || Miraculous Ladybug

Seven - Confession

Marinette sat on her desk chair and it wheeled backwards slightly as she pulled her legs to her chest. Alya sat across from her, on the pink chaise and stared intently at her friend. Marinette took a deep breath and pulled her arms around her legs. She was stressed out from all the recent events, such as the loss of the Miraculous, revealing her identity as Ladybug to Adrien, and her friend and partner Chat Noir not doing well and spending the night. She sighed heavily, it was all too much and she just needed a hand to pull her out. 

"Come on girl, spill whenever you're ready." Alya pushed but Marinette could tell she was silently eager to hear what Marinette had to share. The bluenette ran a hand over the back of her neck before breaking the short silence. 

"When Shadowmoth got my yo-yo, I broke." She confessed. "I had gone to the Agreste mansion to see Adrien, and retrieve the dog Miraculous." Marinette paused and watched as Alya's expression turned more serious. "Well, it turns out that it wasn't Adrien on the train. It was his cousin Felix, filling in for him. Felix was holding the dog Miraculous and stole my yo-yo. I don't know his connection to Shadowmoth, or if he was Akumatized and made a deal, I don't know." Marinette's voice shook and Alya moved to kneel on the floor in front of Marinette, reaching her hands out to cup her friends hands in support. Marinette leaned forward and pressed her forehead into Alya's shoulder and continued. "I had an anxiety attack and completely broke down. Adrien consoled me, and he tried to calm me so I could think about how to get my yo-yo back. He offered me his bathroom to detransform so Tikki could recover, so I did." Marinette slipped out of the chair to sit on the floor with Alya, and took several deep breaths. In, out. In, out. 

"Hey, it's okay." Alya hushed her in a calm voice. "I may not be a holder anymore, but I'll always help you in any way I can. Suit or no suit." She promised sincerely. 

Marinette nodded and paused for a few moments more, and broke the silence. "I guess Adrien heard my crying, because he entered the bathroom with his eyes shut. He promised to keep them shut and he held me while I was upset. He let me talk to him." Her face dusted a deep pink, but no trace of smile lingered on her face this time. "I lost track of how much time I actually spent at his house, but we eventually left the bathroom and hung out in his room. He kept his back to me so he wouldn't see me. I don't know why, but I confessed that he knows me out of costume." 

Alya leaned back and placed her hands on Marinette's shoulders, gazing intently again. Her expression wasn't angry or upset, just focused on the words that Marinette was sharing. "What happened next?"

"Well, one thing led to another, and I said it was okay for him to open his eyes. He saw me, Alya. He knows my identity." Marinette buried her face again. "I'm so scared he's ashamed of me. That he sees me as a failed hero." 

"Hey hey hey," Alya tightened her grip on Marinette. "You know that's not true. You know how much he cares about you. I am sure that he is so proud of you." Alya pulled Marinette into a hug and rubbed her back as she heard her friend sniffle. " I am so proud of you."

☼ ☼ ☼

Marinette and Alya sat beside the canal, with Andre's ice cream in hand. After Marinette had confessed everything, Alya wanted to treat her best friend to try and cheer her up. Marinette and Alya got a scoop of strawberry, and a scoop of orange, symbolizing their hero identities in their minds, or their friendship in other people's minds. Marinette had cheered up a bit and was finally smiling again, as the two just casually talked about life. Because of their hero duties, it had been a while since the two could just act their age together and they were happy to finally be able to again. 

☼ ☼ ☼

Adrien lay on his back, spread out on his bed and his face slightly red from being warm. The sun had dipped down below the horizon leaving his room in a dim light. Today's fencing had been more intense than normal, and he assumed it was from Kagami's built up emotions regarding their breakup and her love for him. Adrien rested a hand over his eyes and sighed. He's felt guilty since their break up, but he couldn't force himself to love her. All he's known for love was being in love with Ladybug, and the feeling of Marinette meaning more to him than he originally thought. He always knew she was special, he was just constantly focused on Ladybug that he didn't pay attention to his feelings for his close friend. He was always loyal to Ladybug, even if she didn't return his feelings. Now that he knew that his Lady and his Princess were the same person, he could allow his feelings for Marinette to show through without feeling guilty. He just hoped she felt the same way. Rolling over onto his side, he made eye contact with Plagg unexpectedly. Adrien chuckled as it surprised him a bit. 

"Geez, why do you look so giddy?" Plagg muttered through bites of the stinky cheese he loved. 

"I'm just happy that Marinette is my Lady. How lucky is that?" He hummed and smiled, shifting his eyes to a picture he had printed out on his wall. The photo was of his class, and his first ever friends. On his left was Nino, and to his right was the pretty bluenette. He took a closer look and noticed she was blushing and looked so happy next to him. He smiled at the thought and sat up. 

"Plagg, I have to go see her." Adrien blurted out. 

"Now, really?" The black cat Kwami grumbled in protest. 

"I want to tell her who I am. I can't keep this from her." He begged, to which Plagg didn't respond and looked away. Adrien got off his bed and wandered to the glass wall keeping him from the outside world, and rested his hand on the cool material. 

"Whatever you say, kid." Plagg finally agreed after he devoured the last bite of Camembert, and floated after his holder. 

"Plagg, claws out!" The boy spoke the familiar words, and a green flash filled part of his room and his everyday clothes were replaced by black leather. Chat Noir leapt onto the ledge of the window and paused, gazing out at the brightening moon. 

"I hope my Lady accepts who I am." He murmured, and leapt off into the Parisian night. 

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1158 words