A Broken Smile

Marinette had loved Adrien for a year. She never imagined in a million years her sister would say this.

   "I like Adrien," she confessed, her voice low. Y/N's face flushed, slightly embarrassed. Marinette's face dropped.

In that moment, she could have confessed that she herself had been in love with Adrien for a long time. She could have explained to her beloved sister that Adrien has been in her heart for so long. Instead she smiled, smoothed her pajama pants down and responded in a chipper voice.
   "That's, that's the most-" she hesitated, realizing that based by y/N's face that she should not continue that sentence, "-the most exciting thing I've heard all day! I'm so happy for you." Marinette smiled, although it didn't reach her eyes. Y/n was too ecstatic to notice.
  She leaped up from Marinette's couch squealing in joy. Excited to tell her every little detail. When she was done, it was late, and Y/n decided to retire to her room. Marinette bade her a good night, and collapsed onto her bed.
   "Marinette, are you okay?" Tikki asked, her voice laden with concern.
   "I think, I just broke my own heart," Marinette sobbed. She buried her face into her soft pillows, soaking them with her tears.

* * *

   As the days passed, Y/n grew closer to Adrien, and Marinette grew more disheartened.

   Y/n spent a lot of time with the blonde haired child, and Marinette typically would remain home. Weeks passed and Marinette's struggle to keep a smile on her face grew harder with each passing day. At one point, even the comfort that came with being Ladybug wasn't enough. She'd fight the daily Akuma's along side her dashing partner without complaint. But Chat could see it on her face.
   His lady was hurting. He didn't know why. Marinette had also been hurting.

He noticed how her smile wasn't as sweet anymore. How her hugs had become, empty. Her demenor was despondent. He also noticed she went to the bathroom quite often. Her excuses were the same, 'stomach problems, lady problems, needing to brush her teeth.' However one day, out of concern, he followed her to the lockers. He then watched her enter the bathroom, out of respect, he didn't follow after her. But he did draw near, to try and assuage his concerns. He was met the sound of crying, it was soft and full of pain. Adrien found himself at a loss for quite some time. He himself began to cry. The tears came unbidden, freely.

  Now the same thing was happening with his lady. His wonderful, radiant lady.
   "My lady, is there something you want to talk about?" He asked, his voice so gentle and inviting, Ladybug nearly cracked.
  No, our identities are more important than boy problems, Chat doesn't need to be burdened with my problems.
   "I wish I could tell you, Kitty. I'm afraid I don't think I can explain enough without disclosing my identity."

   And, I'd rather not. I'd rather not burden him.

   Chat Noir knew better, but he dare not push the matter.

Some days later, he decided to go on a late night walk. As Chat Noir of course. He lept through the tall buildings of Paris. He soon decided to take a break on a building not too far away from Marinette's house. Suddenly, his ears twitched, the sound of sniffling reached him. He turned his head in the direction of the noise and saw Marinette on her balcony.

   Crying again.

   He decided to find out what was happening once and for all, as Chat Noir.
   "Marinette? Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.
   "Yeah-" she paused. No, I'm not okay, and I can never tell Y/n because of why I'm not okay. "No, no I'm not." She broke down sobbing.
   "Maybe I can help?" Chat offered.
    "Promise you won't tell anyone." She sniffled.
    "Cat's honor," he flashed a toothy grin.
    "I'm hopelessly in love with a friend of mine. But my sister loves him too. She told me and I said nothing. Everyday I watch her hang out with him more and more but everyday my heart keeps breaking." Her voice cracked with emotion, "I love him, and I love my sister. I love her so much I'm willing to go through heartbreak for her. But I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," Marinette sobbed into Chat's shoulder.
   But the more Marinette talked the more pieces of a puzzle clicked into place. Her sister was pursuing someone? Who could it be?

   Adrien noticed more and more who Y/n might've been pursuing. How could he have possibly missed it? She was always there, always asking to hang out, always quick to say yes to any excursion that he'd suggest.

   Then one day she did something that opened his eyes wider than his mouth.
   "Adrien, I love you. Do you feel the same?" He froze.

   No. Was the obvious answer. He didn't like Y/n like that, he liked Ladybug.
   "No, I'm sorry I love someone else." He answered truthfully. Y/N's smile faltered a bit, tears preparing themselves to fall.
   "She must be a very special woman." She finally said
   "Yeah, she really is." He said.
   "What does she look like? I'm curious," Y/n finally asked.
   Adrien hesitated, but felt he owed her at least that.
   "Beautiful, she has these eyes that sparkle. Kind of like sapphires or the ocean. She's strong and kind, and isn't afraid to do what is right. She's braver than a lion." Y/n's eyes widened with realization.

   "I should have noticed earlier." she mumbled. "It's Marinette isn't it?" Adrien was taken aback.
   "No! No she's, she's just a friend." he explained. Meanwhile in his jacket, his quami mumbled a flurry of curses in frustration. Adrien patted his pocket in an attempt to silence the aggravated creature.
   "Hah. Don't lie, Marinette is everything you just described." Y/n's eyes were sad.
   It was Ladybug, but Y/n wasn't wrong. Marinette did fit that description. In fact, it was scary how well she fit that description.

  Strikingly beautiful blue eyes. Dark raven hair, braver than a lion, kindhearted, diligent. Always does the right thing. Now that he thought about it, Marinette had a lucky charm. Ladybug has a lucky charm.

   Oh no.

   The glamour that protected Ladybug shattered. The magic no longer worked, Adrien knew his lady was Marinette.
   "I have to go." He ran off, leaving Y/n with a sad expression, but at the same time she was happy.

   She always has a feeling Marinette liked Adrien. But since Mari gave her the go ahead, she never questioned it further. She hoped that if she ignored reality, it might hurt less. She was wrong.

   So very very wrong.

   "MARINETTE!" Adrien cried as he burst into her room. Marinette promptly shrieked and fell off her couch.
   "A-adrien??" He rushed over to her and hugged her tight.
   "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to find out, but I did." he mumbled. Marinette froze.
   Find what out? What exactly has he found out?

   "I love you, I didn't realize it then, but I do now. Ive loved you for so long." Marinette felt tears leave her eyes.
   "You do? Really?" she whispered.
   "How could I not? You're my lady, I've just been such a blind fool for too long." Marinette's body went rigid.
   "What? Your lady?" Adrien pulled himself from the hug and faced Marinette.
   "I know Mari, I know you're Ladybug. But here's the catch, I'm your Chat Noir," he smiled. Mari felt the glamour shatter as she pieced her thoughts together.
   It's true. She saw Chat in Adrien, and Adrien in Chat. She cried upon full realization.

   They hugged each other tightly, afraid that if the other let go, they may never see them again.

In the end, everything worked out for the better. Y/n gave up Adrien and soon fell for a very handsome songwriter named Luka.

Adrien and Marinette stayed together, and eventually they defeated Hawk Moth. In the end things worked out, at least for now.

Fin.