Miraculous Ladybug: Volpina's Return

A Ladybug in Distress

Marinette had gone ghostly pale. She let her phone drop in her lap as she went to grab her cat shaped pillow and squeeze it. Tikki had looked down to see what was on her phone that could've gotten such a response from her Holder. She gasped and went up to comfort her immediately. Chat Noir had texted her with Adrien's phone number. Marinette couldn't believe it. Adrien and Chat Noir were one in the same. She had just admitted to Chat-Adrien, that she liked him. It had always been Adrien. She had kissed Adrien during their fight with Dark Cupid. She had pushed away Adrien's flirtatious advances. Adrien Agreste had flirted with Marinette Dupain-Cheing. And she, Marinette had kissed Adrien. She could tell she was hyperventilating, and using her pillow to suppress her screams. She came up for air as she saw Tikki and she wanted to scream but stayed as quite as she possibly could.

"Tikki!" Marinette screeched as she took her Kwami gently in her hands. "How is this even possible?! Chat Noir is Adrien?! How is this even possible?!?!" She didn't believe what she said. She couldn't believe what she said. It was just impossible! Or was it? Marinette took sometime while she tried to regain her composure and thought about all the evidence. They were both blond, had green eyes, had a very similar build, was always absent around the same time there was an Akuma attack. How had she not even seen the really obvious stuff before?! Alya had even figured it out and only with some photo shop skills. Marinette slumped back down against her pillows. Tikki finally spoke,

"Marinette it's not the end of the world." Tikki was right of course. It wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. At least Chat wasn't some creeper or pervert as a civilian. It was just a lot to take in. "So what if Chat Noir is Adrien. Does that really bother you that you know who he really is?"

"Yes... I MEAN! No, I just... never wanted to figure it out this way. I mean Chat is my partner who I trust with my life. And Adrien is my crush who I can't utter a single word to. How will this effect our partnership? Our friendship? What if me knowing who he is messes up or ruins our partnership?" Marinette started to tug on her hair in distress. Tikki went up and gave her some comfort before speaking again.

"First you shouldn't let this new information overwhelm you. Secondly you could try to get to know Adrien better? It could strengthen your partnership." Tikki tried to pet her cheek but Marinette shook her head, like she was still trying to deny the new information.

"It's not that simple, Tikki. What if I make a fool of myself in front of him? Or what if I slip up and reveal his identity? I couldn't show my face to either of them." Marinette kept on rambling on any other possible scenarios that Tikki had heard for thousands of years before. But never the less she was compassionate and listened well to her complaints.

"Marinette you are over reacting about it. You just need to let the information sink in and take it one step at a time. Come on you are Ladybug, you can do this!" Marinette looked like she was gonna argue but just sighed instead, taking a moment to regain her composure again.

"You are right Tikki, it's not the end of the world. You're right I can do this!"

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"I can't do this Tikk!" Marinette had ran to the empty janitor closet, as the bathroom was completely occupied. The morning had gone rather smooth in retrospect. She replied to Chat's message as professionally as possible,

'yes Chat I received your message, thank you'

Marinette patted herself on the shoulder for that one. She was able to get to school on time, which completely shocked her friend Alya. While her sleep was lacking in time, she felt well rested and ready to tackle the day, all things considered. Everything was going well for her, until he walked into the classroom. Marinette froze, her new found confidence quickly fled from her. She didn't even register that he said good morning to her. All she could do was just stare blankly at him, and unknowingly captured every bit of detail that was similar to Chat's. Marinette really kicked herself for not seeing it sooner, and it left her in a state of embarrassment and shame.