Second Chance

Chapter 6

"Hello, Marinette Dupain-Cheng," he said, smirking cheekily. "I'm Adrien Agreste."

Marinette's face was on fire beneath her mask. She slammed her hands over her eyes, shaking her head vigorously. "I can't believe this. Even though I knew it—ugh. I'm an idiot."

He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Surprise?"

"Spots off," Marinette blurted. Her suit disappeared. Her blue eyes met his green ones. "It's you? It's me and you. Me and Adrien." Her eyes widened. "Me and Adrien. Ladybug and Cat Noir. Ladybug and Adrien. Marinette and Cat Noir. But also Marinette and Adrien? And Adrien and Cat Noir—no, wait—"

Adrien burst out laughing, and Marinette, watching him, was reminded forcefully of when she'd really begun to fall for him.

When he'd given her his umbrella in the rain, those few years ago.

As Adrien's laughter faded, his green eyes fastened on her blue ones. Then his hand came up to gently trace her cheek, and his head dipped closer. "May I kiss you, my lady?" He murmured.

Marinette went wide-eyed. This was like something out of one of her daydreams. Was this really happening?

"I—I—"

Adrien's lips had just brushed hers when a sudden scream ripped through the tranquility of the evening. Marinette spun around, her Ladybug instincts taking over as she searched for the source of the sound. A booming explosion rocked the ground and Marinette stumbled, but Adrien reached out and caught her. "What was that?" He asked in alarm.

Marinette clenched her fingers in his shirt for a moment, enjoying a brief moment of safety in his arms. "Another akuma?" She asked wearily.

"Well, duty calls," Adrien said. He glanced around a moment, then shot her a smirk, stepped back, and declared, "Plagg, claws out!"

For the first time, Marinette watched him transform into her best friend, her partner, the one person she trusted the most in the entire world. The sight left her utterly speechless for a moment, her mouth gaping, all the air leaving her lungs.

"Cat got your tongue, milady?"

Marinette's cheeks turned rosy pink. Blushing furiously, she spun away from him, facing the hulking moth-like sentimonster as it hovered above the city. "Tikki, spots on!" She shouted. Now transformed into Ladybug, the confidence and strength settled over her like a second skin, like the suit she could move so easily in.

"Where there's a sentimonster, Shadowmoth and an akumatized villain won't be far behind," Marinette said, unhooking her yoyo and spinning it absentmindedly. "We shouldn't just announce our presence right away. We should use your strategy: sneak closer, observe, and figure out what to do. Cause a distraction if need be, make sure civilians are safe."

When Adrien—Cat Noir—didn't answer, she turned to face him. "What do you think?" She frowned in concern at the way he was just staring at her. "Adrien?"

"You are so beautiful, my lady. Do you even know how amazing you are?"

Marinette blushed again and turned her head, trying to focus."It—it takes an amazing person to—to know another amazing person, I would imagine. I mean—"

His shoulder pressed against hers as they still lingered on the roof in the dark of the evening, neither of them wanting to leave this precious moment in time.

Then he held out his fist.

"Together, then?" He said softly.

She bumped his fist with hers. "Together, like always," she answered, her heart throbbing.

He knew who she was. She knew who he was. There was a trust and love between them that had never been allowed to bloom. She was still terrified—Cat Blanc was a heavy memory lingering at the back of her mind—but there was something different about this, now. When she'd lost everything, he was still there. He hadn't forced her to reveal herself; she had chosen to. He'd never pushed or pressured her. He'd just loved her.

She wanted to be free to let herself be loved. But she didn't know if she ever would have that freedom.