The Situationship

And Now, the End is Near

Adrien stood in front of the mirror, Chat Noir beside him, as he straightened his cat cufflinks and checked his tie. It had been a week since the showdown at the House of Humphries, and even though Marinette was now safely out of the Dragon's Den, he couldn't help feeling the war wasn't over. They thought Lila was just taking her time to regroup and prepare...and his gut feeling was telling him D-Day would be tonight. She'd want a crowd. She'd want to be in the spotlight, with all eyes on her.

"So, once you're inside with Marinette, I'll find Scarabella and hide in the rafters," Chat Noir said, sitting on the bed and throwing a ball of yarn up and down.

Adrien nodded in understanding. Chat Noir caught the yarn and stood up, making his way to the mirror with an unimpressed expression.

Adrien eyed his counterpart curiously. "What?"

With his lips scrunched, Chat Noir reached out to straighten his tie. "It's going to be okay, you know. We've tested my cataclysm and Alya is crazy talented with the Ladybug Miraculous. She's even managed to change her look so she's almost identical to M'Lady. We're all going to be okay..." They caught each other's eyes in the mirror, and Adrien was sure Chat could read the uncertainty in his mind. "She will be okay."

It didn't take much to realise they were both a lot more worried about Marinette than they were for themselves. As always, they had Marinette's protection at the forefront of their minds. They'd love to say it was just a man madly in love with a beautiful woman, but they knew it was more than that.

It was a warrior on the first line of defence.

A bodyguard protecting his mark.

A knight protecting royalty.

A man making sure the most important thing in his life wasn't hurt.

Yes, she was strong, arguably the strongest out of all of them, but that didn't mean they didn't worry. Especially when Adrien knew he wouldn't be helping.

"I promise," Chat Noir said, "I'll keep our girl safe."

And Adrien felt every single word.

A clacking of heels suddenly sounded through the open door, gaining volume as the sound grew closer and closer to the bedroom. Adrien and Chat looked at each other, one eyebrow raised and their mouths turned up slightly on one side. Their Lady was coming.

Adrien continued checking the fit of his suit as Chat Noir made his way towards the door, grasping the handle and pulling it open.

"For what do we... Woah!"

Chat Noir's sudden gasp was met by the sound of the most sultry giggle he'd ever heard. Turning from the mirror to the door, Adrien almost melted through the floor.

Marinette walked her way in, in such a Ladybug way that he could almost see her in black spots. Or he was seeing black spots and was about to pass out? She looked beyond beautiful, with smoky black eyes, her hair curled and draping over one shoulder, and the most luscious, kissable red lips. Adrien stood in shock as he watched her grab Chat Noir's bell and play with it – just like he had done back in Belfast with her zip.

"What do you think, Kitty?" She lifted onto her toes, the extra push allowing her to meet his height. Her lips skimmed over Chat Noir's and phantomed over Adrien's. He couldn't take his eyes from them as he brushed his fingertips over the soft feeling on his lips. He wasn't slightly surprised his alter ego's emotions were heightened. His own were about to explode in heart-shaped bubbles.

Then she spoke again, her lips practically on his. "Oh dear, what's wrong, Minou? Cat got your tongue?"

"It might have his, but mine is available." Adrien wasn't quite sure what he'd been thinking or why he'd said that out loud, but man he wanted her to leave the kitten and come to the lion.