Song of Our Lives

Chapter 6: Um We ARE Ladybug and Chat Noir

A/N: Sorry the update is so late! I've been soooo busy this weekend. I had my close friend's sweet sixteen yesterday to go to, which by the way was laser tag and was AWESOME! Then I had to film a thing all day today and I just got back home now- around nine thirty. So I've been busy. But I've posted this and it's definitely one of my favorite chapters! Onwards!

A/N: Also the drawing above is a quick sketch of one of the scenes in the previous chapter, done by yours truly! ;)

"I don't want to go back out," Marinette complained to Adrien when they were back in the room they had been in before the show. "They're going to ambush us."

Adrien laughed. "Well you have to go out one day, my lady." He winked at her and stuffed a few more chocolates into his pockets.

"On second thought... Let's go," she said, ready to dash out of the curtains. A flirty Chat Noir was one thing, but a flirty Adrien? That she couldn't handle.

Except that they were the same person.

"It's still messing with your mind too, huh?" Adrien asked, a serious edge to his voice.

Marinette nodded. "It's just... You're so different from Chat Noir," she repeated.

There was that sad smile again. "Not for long," Adrien whispered, his voice barely audible even by her. "Now that my dad knows I'm Chat Noir... It's just back to being like this all the time."

Being like this all the time? Marinette shook her head. "What do you mean by that?"

"I couldn't really do what I wanted," Adrien began. "Be myself. But when I was told that I could be Chat Noir, I was free to act however I liked. Be whoever I wanted to be. I don't really have that freedom anymore."

Marinette's jaw dropped. "I'm so sorry... I should have never let you-"

"It was my decision," Adrien assured her. "And I definitely don't regret it." He gave her a real smile this time and took her hand. "Come on, let's go face whatever chaos is out there."

*~*~*~*

"I can't believe it!" Alya repeated for the umpteenth time. "Ladybug was right in front of me the whole time! Oh my goodness I'm such a terrible reporter." She turned to Adrien. "And you! Chat Noir?!"

He nodded with an amused smile.

"You flirtatious, sly, punny, crazy cat!" She punched his arm with every word. Finally Alya retreated, leaving a frowning Adrien rubbing his shoulder. She turned to Nino. "Why aren't you surprised?"

"I am," he protested. "But you have to admit- it makes more sense than Chloé."

That brought smiles to everyone's faces.

"Besides," Nino continued. "Now that it's out, it all makes sense. The number of times you disappeared with no explanation." He gave Adrien a pointed look and turned to Marinette. "The number of times you were late to class, etc."

Marinette laughed. "Well it's not easy balancing being Ladybug and everything else."

"At least you don't have a bunch of classes to go to on top of being Chat Noir," Adrien pointed out. "And you don't have to constantly lie about why your father's bill includes tons of Camembert if you're on a strict model's diet."

"Classes? Camembert?" Marinette shook her head. "That's intense."

"Hey! Now I can interview you whenever I want!" Alya realized, turning to Marinette. "Like in class or when we're hanging out or when you and Adrien are on your date..."

Marinette's face was on fire. "Alya!" she cried out, mortified. Adrien, on the other hand, had a sly grin on his face, not unlike the one Chat Noir had worn many times.

Alya laughed. "Oh look your parents are here," she called, before dashing off in the opposite direction.

Fortunately for Alya, it was Marinette's parents. Walking towards her. About to probably chide her for being Ladybug...

The last thing she expected was for her mom to say to her dad, "You owe me a euro."

She looked back and forth between them.

"YOU BET ON THIS?!"

The realization came to her almost knocking her off her feet. "You bet on me being Ladybug?!"

Her parents exchanged a look. "Well, not exactly," Sabine tried. "We suspected you being Ladybug. We bet on you and Adrien ending up together."

Marinette buried her face in her hands. "Oh that's even worse." She turned around, and sure enough, Adrien was behind them watching the whole scene unfold.

"We're just glad you're safe," Tom assured Marinette, pulling her into a hug. When they broke apart, he glared at Adrien. "I may have to talk to that young man though. Some of the things Chat Noir says to Ladybug..."

Adrien flinched.

Sabine placed a hand on Tom's shoulder. "Now we don't want to scare the boy do we?" She turned to Adrien. "I think what you say to my daughter is rather sweet."

A now extremely red faced Adrien murmured a quick thank you and went back to staring at the floor.

Marinette shook her head in embarrassment. "How about we talk about this at home?"

Her mom laughed. "If you say so." She took Tom's arm and dragged him into the crowd.

After they had disappeared out of earshot, Adrien let out a long sigh. "I think your dad scares me more than mine," he managed.

Marinette laughed. "He's really sweet once you get to know him. Kind of like someone else I know." She poked Adrien's chest.

"Well, I think I'm sweet even when you don't get to know me," he protested cockily.

"Try not to get a big head, kitty."

Adrien grinned. "So are we supposed to talk to the mayor now or..."

"I think he's heading right towards us," Marinette noticed. Sure enough, the tall man was walking towards them. Next to him stood a petite girl in a yellow jacket and messy ponytail. "Ugh he's bringing Chloé too."

"Maybe she won't be as mean now since she knows you're Ladybug," Adrien tried. "I kind of get why you were so annoyed with her as Ladybug."

Marinette shook her head. "She'll be as obnoxious either way, trust me."

Mayor Bourgeois stepped up to the two teens, an indecipherable expression on his face. "I speak for all of Paris when I say that we are sorry for doubting you two," he apologized. "Both Ladybug and Chat Noir have done a great deal for this city, and repaying you by forcing you to reveal your identities is ridiculous." He sighed. "We have been goaded by Hawkmoth once more and we will be forever in your debt."

Adrien and Marinette exchanged surprised glances.

"Hawkmoth can be extremely persuasive," Marinette assured. "We understand, although it is inevitable that he will be targeting our families next."

The Mayor nodded. "Both you and your families will be given the utmost protection from Paris's number one villain. I'll request for Ladybug and Chat Noir to guard your-"

"We are Ladybug and Chat Noir," Adrien reminded.

Mayor Bourgeois's mouth opened and closed again, like a fish gasping for air. "Right. Then will some guards do?"

Both teens nodded, stifling a laugh. Moments later, the Mayor and Chloé were walking away, Chloé's nose still in the air.

"We could pulverize those guards without even trying," Marinette managed between laughter.

Adrien clutched his stomach. "Time to protect Ladybug and Chat Noir... With Ladybug and Chat Noir."

"Oh what would Paris do without us?"