Unclean Hands 🫴🏻 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

14 | Cat's Out Of The Bag

"All this time..." They both whispered in sync as they stared at each other's miraculous.

Marinette and Adrien were speechless. All this time, their partner had been there all along. Both thought back on the times they saved each other—Ladybug and Adrien, and Cat Noir and Marinette—and wondered why they didn't see it sooner. It was obvious, or it should have been.

To think Adrien actually guessed Ladybug's identify right when their teacher was akumatized into Kwamibuster. He'd never been so happy to be right about something until now.

Marinette couldn't believe it. Cat Noir and Adrien Agreste seemed like two different people. But of course, with a mask protecting his identity, he could be free to talk and act how he wanted, without the control from his father.

"Marinette..." Adrien smiled wide and stepped forward. He hugged her tight and spun her around. This moment was perfect. Everything was perfect. He stood still and nuzzled his face into the crock of her neck.

Adrien was so happy it was her. She was Marinette and Ladybug. He didn't have to choose between them anymore. He could love them both equally and at the same time, guilt free.

"I can't believe this," He whispered in her ear, holding her tighter. "I'm so happy it's you. My heart doesn't have to be torn apart anymore! I can love you both."

Adrien's eyes suddenly snapped open as he remembered Marinette was in love with someone else, a second guy. He didn't have the right to force himself on Marinette, expect her to reciprocate his feelings.

He let her go and stepped back. "But... you're in love with someone else, too. I respect that. If you prefer him instead..."

Marinette smiled. "I'm in love with both of you."

"Wait, you mean the second guy you're in love with is... Cat Noir?" Adrien asked, confused.

She nodded.

"Wow," He whispered, then chuckled. "That's ironic, isn't it?"

"What, that we fell in love with each other twice?" Marinette joked.

"Does that make us dumb?"

"A little," She said, laughing. "But it doesn't help that the quantum masking hides what we look like. We had no idea."

Adrien smiled and hugged her tight again. "You have no idea how happy I am it's you, Marinette."

"So..." She took in a deep breath and asked, "You're not disappointed?"

"Of course not." He pulled back and held her hands. "I hoped and dreams you would be the girl under the mask."

"Really?"

"Marinette, you underestimate how much I love you." Adrien cradled her face gently. "I finally found you."

She stood on her toes and kissed his nose. "I'm glad it's you, Kitty. My heart couldn't take fighting between you both anymore. I almost chose a life of solitude to avoid hurting either of you."

"What about you?" Adrien asked as he started playing with her hair. "You're not disappointed I'm your feline?"

Marinette shook her head. "No, not at all. I mean, there have been times I thought Adrien and Cat Noir couldn't be the same person, but..." She smiled. "I'm glad you are."

Their kwamis floated up by their holder's heads.

"Finally!" Plagg shouted, feigning a dramatic gasp. "I thought we were going to be trapped in this infinite carrousel of confusion and mixed feelings forever!"

Tikki giggles. "It is good that our holders are finally together, after the years they spent pining after each other."

Marinette's eyes widened as she blushed. She scratched her arm, embarrassed. "Who would've thought, huh? That after everything that's happened, every choice we ever made... we would always find each other..."

She raised her hand, and Adrien did the same. They pressed their palms together.

"With and without the mask," She finished.

Adrien squeezed her hand. "No matter what."

The two heroes smiled at each other.

Plagg groaned as he rolled his eyes. "I forgot how mushy and sentimental humans are. Get it over with! Hurry up and kiss already!"

"No!" Tikki smacks him. "They have to cherish the moment!"

Marinette and Adrien laughed.

He raised her hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles. "Guess the cat's out of the bag, huh?"

"I'm kind of glad it is. I hate secrets." Marinette stood on her toes and kissed Adrien. He pulled her closer, his arm snaked around her waist, and deepened the kiss.

Tikki watched in awe and Plagg pretended to throw up.