Falling for a Villain (Miraculous Ladybug)

United

Felix

~~~

This confirmed it. Alya might not have been the Mole for as long as he suspected, but it didn't matter. She was the only one who had been close enough to decipher Ladybug's age before she discontinued her endeavor on the LadyBlog.

The blog had been a good source of information about Ladybug for Felix and it would've surprised him more if Scarlet Moth didn't use that resource. After Scarlet Moth learned that information a few months ago, he likely akumatized Alya to keep the information flowing but didn't post it on the blog so that people like Felix couldn't try to dissect how much information he had.

The most important part of this plan, however, was getting Scarlet Moth to reveal himself. Felix had to make a big show of revealing the Mole so that Scarlet Moth would tip his hand and reveal that he was, in fact, Gabriel Agreste.

It was masterfully done, and now that they confirmed who he was, it was time to prepare for the final battle.

Felix looked to Marinette who seemed to stare blankly at the akumatized Alya and Nino on the ground. He walked over.

"Marinette--"

"We have to prepare," She said firmly. Marinette's eyes met Felix's, "And we need everyone."

Felix nodded. Marinette looked into the crowd, locking eyes with two people, "Kagami, Adrien! Let's go!"

Marinette weaved through the crowd and out of the school. Felix followed and close behind were Adrien and Kagami. Felix had never seen Marinette so determined before.

~~~

Marinette

This was it, the proof they needed. And now she had to do the thing she feared most.

With her friends gathered around her in her room, it was finally time.

"I have something I need to tell you." She began. Her gaze flickered to Felix for a moment. She noticed the slight surprise in his expression as he realized what she was up to, but he nodded in support.

Marinette walked over to her sewing box, opened the secret latch, and pulled out the Miracle Box, "I am Ladybug."

Kagami looked surprised but seemed to accept the information gracefully-- if Marinette had been guardian before all this had started, she would've given Kagami the ladybug earrings.

Adrien on the other hand, looked as if his eyes would pop out of his skull, "You're... Ladybug....?"

Marinette nodded softly, "To find out that you were Chat Noir was quite the shock for me too..." She gave him a gentle smile.

Kagami now mimicked Adrien's bulging eyes, "You were Chat Noir? But you seemed so different."

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged, "The mask was a way of helping me escape the expectations...I felt more free to be who I wanted instead of the perfect Adrien Agreste everyone else sees."

"And funnily enough, the mask was the opposite for me," Marinette admitted, "I was able to become a confident version of myself... but she wasn't truly me." She looked at Felix, "And I think I like Marinette a bit more than Ladybug."

Felix smirked slyly and winked at her, a silent confirmation that he also liked her more than her alter-ego. Marinette felt a rush of heat to her cheeks and she looked away, now wasn't the time for butterflies-- although she was sure that Scarlet Moth disagreed.

"So... that entire time we danced around each other?" Adrien asked.

"Sounds like it. Now, we need to get started." Marinette held out the Miracle Box, a few of the latches opening to reveal each of their respective miraculous, "I need your help. The final battle is approaching and I can only trust those closest to me."

Marinette looked at Adrien, "Adrien, you've been my heroic partner since the beginning. We have an unshakable trust that I need on the battlefield. I need Chat Noir." Adrien nodded and took the cat ring from the Miracle Box, Plagg emerging with an excited 'whoop!'.

She then looked at Kagami, "Kagami, You are the most fearsome and strong-willed person I've ever met. I'm honored to be your friend and I'd be even more honored if you would fight alongside me as Ryuko."

Kagami nodded and smiled, "I'm honored to be your friend too, Marinette." She took the dragon miraculous from the Miracle Box, Longg emerging with a smile and nod.

Lastly, Marinette looked at Felix, "Felix... In the span of two weeks, you've done more for me than I could've ever asked for. You've inspired me, given me hope, and helped me in ways I didn't think anyone could. We've had our rocky moments, that's for sure, but I know I need you by my side in this battle. Will you join me as Flairmidable?"

Felix smirked, "Did you even need to ask, Little Bug?" He plucked the dog miraculously from the box, Barkk smiling and nuzzling Felix's cheek. He seemed less than amused by the affection from the kwamii.

"Wait, Felix is Flairmidable?" Adrien asked, his eyes wide again.

"That isn't going to be the most surprising revelation for you, Agreste," Felix responded and looked to Marinette.

She hadn't thought about how to break the news to Adrien... His dad was Scarlet Moth for crying out loud, not to mention that he was Chat Noir and had been fighting his father this entire time.

"What do you mean?" Adrien seemed confused.

"You know who Scarlet Moth is, don't you?" Kagami guessed, "That's why you're telling us all of this."

Marinette nodded, "Adrien, you might want to take a seat..."

Adrien seemed worried and took a seat on the chaise, looking at Marinette for some sort of answer. She just needed to rip the bandaid off--right?

"Gabriel Agreste is Scarlet Moth."

~~~