He Was There | Miraculous Ladybug

Chapter Ten: Strangers

It's been weeks since Ladybug and Chat Noir have seen each other, school has started and they both were busy with finding their respective careers that didn't revolve around their superhero lives. 

Marinette and Adrien walk out of their school as the day had finally ended after dragging for hours. "Are you okay, you haven't talked much today," Marinette asks looking over at Adrien as they both walk out of the gates of the school yard. He shrugs looking up at the sky, "I haven't felt like I had a purpose since the semester started. I don't know what I want to be and obviously Paris is safe, so, I don't have to be out there risking my life with a stranger in a mask." He mutters crossing his arms walking closer to her. 

Marinette winces, "Did she say that to you?" She inquires acting oblivious to the situation leaning against him. He nods gently, "I think she's afraid she would know me as a civilian, I mean think about it would you want to know the real me after working with me for over a year. I don't think anyone would especially the way I treated her." He mumbles as they both approached Andre the ice cream man. 

"Ah! Marinette and Adrien my favorite new lovers!" He exclaims turning away to his ice cream cart to make them two fresh cones with corresponding flavors. "Two sweet treats for two soulmates!" He smiles handing over two cones that respond to their appearances and personalities. They both smile, "Thanks Andre!" They say in unison as they walk away.
"You know, I'm sure she scared how you would react to her being who she is as much as who you are." Marinette whispers as he guides her to an empty bench facing the river. He glances back at her, "I guess so, but I don't see why she would she seems so confident in who she is... I guess it wasn't meant to be known who each other is." He confesses sitting on the bench gently. 

Marinette joins him on the bench frowning, "Remember when you took me home from the wax museum after I...kissed you... was she the girl you were talking about?" She asks looking over at him as he slowly takes a bite of his ice cream. Adrien's face turns bright red once the spoon touches his tongue, "I told you I was in love with her... I'm not anymore I acted like a fool, if I was still was who knows how this could've ended up. I could've done awful things and not end the terrorism of Monarch." He mentions in a mumble with the spoon dangling from his mouth as he placed his hand against his forehead. 

Marinette touches his shoulder, "I'm sure you being in love with her wouldn't have affected the outcome," she smiles tilting her head.
Adrien shakes his head lowering his hand to grab the spoon, "No, if I still was in love with her I wouldn't have had the strength to confront my father, that's thanks to you." He whispered taking another bite of his ice cream. 

Marinette looks away removing her hand to also take a bite. "I guess," she mumbles shoving the spoon in her mouth.
"Did I tell you the story about..." Adrien goes on to tell Marinette the story of his and Ladybug's adventures from before they defeated Monarch. Marinette listens intently to his perspective of what happened. She was intrigued by his thought process and what he noticed and didn't notice during the encounters. 

"She was in New York, can you believe the coincidence! She ask me to protect Paris while she was gone, I was never happier to see her there." He smiles placing his hands on his cheeks as he blushes.
Marinette frowns glancing over at him, "Are you sure you're not in love with her?" She whispered pulling her legs up to her chest. Adrien's eyes widened, "No? Why would you say that?" He laughs touching her shoulder. 

Marinette smiles softly, "The way you've been talking about her for the last few minutes makes me think you still love her." She whispered looking over at him. 

He shakes his head slowly, "I can't be in love with my partner, we can only be friends... besides, I can't love someone without knowing who they truly are." He whispered back shrugging while looking into her eyes. They sit in silence listening to the crashing waves of the river. 

Marinette looks away sighing, "You know they say that the holders of the cat and ladybug are soulmates, what's your take on that?" She smirks glancing over at him. He blushes taking his hand away from her shoulder, "I guess it's more platonic between her and I, why are you asking these questions? Are you jealous?" He smirks back pointing at her chest.
She shakes her head smiling, "No, just curious on what you think about your partner." She winks before laying her head on his shoulder. 

Adrien blinks slowly looking down at her, "You won't tell anyone right?" He whispered wrapping his arm around her. She shakes her head against his shoulder, "I would be exposing myself if I did, Adrien." She whispered closing her eyes smiling.
His cheeks became so flushed it started to sting. He pushes her off of him, "What did you just say?" He asked lowly glaring at her. She smiles slyly, "It's safe, Kitty." She whispered grabbing his hand watching his gaze soften. He reaches out behind her bangs looking at her earrings. "You know this isn't funny, Marinette." He mumbles touching the stud gently. 

She shrugs, "I won't outright say it, but you know me better than you think." She whispered looking down at his own ring. "And apparently I did too," She adds stroking the top of his hand.
"Why did you run off and never reached out? I've sat for hours waiting for you to come patrol..." He mentions lowly placing his hand against her cheek. 

"I was afraid you'd hate me if you saw the real me, knowing I didn't tell you immediately after you told me... completely wrecked me." She admits leaning in closer to him. "I was afraid it would change things."
He closes his eyes inhaling slowly, "If this is getting me back from the museum, I definitely deserve it." He mutters placing his hand on hers. 

Her eyes widen, "Would I lie to you? After everything you think I would prank you like this?" She reaches up for her earrings as he watches intensely. She took them out from her ears and laid them in his hand with a sly smile. She closes his hand around them with one hand the other to open her purse revealing a pink Kwami eating a cookie.
Adrien's jaw dropped pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry." He whispered laying his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Marinette." He continued as tears formed in his eyes.

Marinette wrapped her arms around him in return as he clenched her miraculous in his fist. "It's okay I wouldn't have believed me either," she whispered giggling lightly as he tightened his grip around her. "Are you... disappointed?" She whispered against his shoulder.

  Adrien pulls away looking down at her, "Oh god no, this was the most desirable outcome, my best friend is the same person as my girlfriend... Going back to the soulmates thing... maybe?" He smirks tilting his head to the side before sending her a wink. Marinette shakes her head giggling at she placed her palm against his cheek, "Very funny, you know what's funnier?" 

He leans into her touch letting out a hum in response. "Technically... our first kiss... was a time you didn't remember." She giggles softly watching his face drop in her hands. He lets out a quiet groan in defeat, "Doesn't count you didn't love me then." He smirks back watching her eyebrows furrow. "Oh, kitty kitty, I did LOVE you. I just didn't know it yet." She winks pulling her hand away from him.