Falling for a Villain (Miraculous Ladybug)

The Final Battle (P2)

TW: gore, violence, a little bit of spice

Marinette

~~~

There was nothing simple about the plan. It could go wrong at any and every turn... but that was how most of Marinette's plans operated anyway.

Ladybug and Flairmidable approached the Eiffel Tower slowly-- keeping to the shadows. The plan was good, not foolproof, but good.

Viperion would watch from a high vantage point and use his ability of second chance as the battle began. If anything went wrong, he would rewind time and relay useful information via their complimentary hero suit comms. Ryuko would use the dragon miraculous to keep most of the villains at bay and buy time. Chat Noir would focus on finding Scarlet Moth's accomplice-- who Felix deduced was most likely Nathalie-- and de-akumatize them. If they could cut off Scarlet Moth's power amplification, they would only have Hawkmoth himself to deal with and then came the hard part. For the first time since gaining the miraculous, Ladybug herself would be bait-- the distraction. Scarlet Moth just couldn't seem to help himself when it came to battling her. If she could distract him long enough and effectively, it would give Flairmidable the chance to use his fetch ability to retrieve the butterfly miraculous and end all of this.

Ladybug and Flarimidable got in position, now they just had to await Viperion's signal that the others were ready.

She was tense. Anything could go wrong and they would be done for. Every moment they weren't doing anything was another moment her anxiety had to rise and grow.

"Marinette." The familiar timbre of Felix's voice snapped her from her thoughts.

Marinette's blue eyes met Felix's emerald green, "Yes?"

Felix took a breath. She saw uncertainty and worry in his eyes and she felt herself immediately become concerned for him, "What is it? Are you okay?"

Her reaction made his lips curve into a small smile, "I have something I need to tell you-- before I lose my nerve and my dignity." Felix took a step closer, grasping her hands in his own.

Marinette felt small and delicate. She always forgot how tall he was until he was standing right before her. Her heart raced. The last time they were this close-- they were on her balcony in the rain. She could still feel his lips, his hands, the droplets of water falling onto her face. She could feel her cheeks heating at the thought.

Her gaze caught his. He had an almost hungry look in his eyes and she wondered if he was thinking about the same thing, "I know I've made mistakes, Marinette." Felix began, his voice so soft and low, she knew it was only meant for her ears, "I took you for granted, I underestimated you, and I hurt you. And when I saw how I hurt you, realized just how much you meant to me."

Marinette's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her ears. Her mind seemed to blank-- he couldn't be...

Felix drew closer, his forehead resting against hers and his eyes never leaving hers for a moment, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng... I'm in love with you. I'm in love with your laugh. I'm in love with your smile your jokes and your clumsiness. I'm in love with your creativity, your optimism, your courage, and your fear. I love all of you." His voice was barely above a whisper, but no matter the volume, it shook Marinette to her very core.

She felt every word and her heart sang with every syllable. There was only one thing to say, and she prayed to whoever might be listening for her to not screw up her words, "I love you too, Felix Fathom."

Marinette had never seen his expression so bright. In a swift movement, he pulled her to him, his lips crashing against hers as if he had been starving for her. She responded in kind, her hands threading through his hair as his fingertips moved down her sides to grasp her hips firmly yet gently.