Shall We Dance?- A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction

Chapter 17

Ladybug touched down on the hardwood floor of the school just in time for her transformation to wear off. Tikki fluttered down to her open palms exhausted. She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad we made it back," the kwami noted. Marinette nodded and walked her over to her gym bag where she had a stash of cookies waiting. "You and Chat were excellent today. I think that's the fastest we've ever handled an akuma."

"That was all his doing. I've never seen him so... determined before."

"Well, getting a chance to talk to you probably had something to do with it." She smiled and opened the bag, before placing Tikki down gently so she could eat and regain her strength. As she was crouched on the floor, she heard the sound of feet landing behind her and there was a flash of green, followed by a loud groan.

"Duuude," a new voice complained, "What in the world was that? You've never pushed your powers that hard before."

"Plagg," Adrien answered evenly, "There is a wheel of Camembert in the gym bag. Go get it and join Tikki or something." Marinette gulped. His voice was even but it sent a chill up her spine. Plagg, his kwami she assumed, grumbled again before taking off to eat his cheese. She stood and straightened herself, ready for whatever was about to happen.

Well, almost half ready.

Before she could move, there was suddenly a set of arms around her waist. She jerked but relaxed, realizing that he'd come and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face against the exposed part of her neck. Heat rushed to her face. "You found me," he whispered against her skin. "You really found me." Marinette turned her head a bit to smile at him when he raised his head to look at her again. "When did... when did you figure it out?"

She turned around to face him completely. Her arms rose up to wrap around his neck and he leaned his forehead on to hers. "Don't be mad," she breathed. His eyes met hers and saw the hesitation that was there. Briefly, he placed a gentle kiss on her nose.

"I can never be mad at you my lady."

"Uh... well...I kind of... figured it out...last Friday."

Friday. The first time they'd kissed.

He nearly choked on his breath.

"What? How!?" Marinette smiled and playfully poked his nose.

"Well, Tikki explained it to me. Apparently there was some magic placed on the miraculouses when they were first created that makes it hard for anyone to figure out who the heroes are under the masks. It takes a series of events for the spell to be broken but... us falling in love helped."

Adrien shot her his best Chat smirk before resting his forehead back on hers. "So that's why," he breathed, "that's why you've been driving me crazy all day. The Chat Noir outfit, the hairstyle, the puns. You were doing it intentionally."

She looked abashed. "Guilty as charged." He laughed. Leaning his face closer, he hovered to just above kissing. The proximity alone made her dizzy and her eyes drooped to half-lidded and her hands, laced together behind his neck, tightened. "You know, that's not very fair Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Why should you be the only one to drive me crazy?"

It was her turn to chuckle. "Because we both know who runs this relationship kitty and if you even think of denying me this kiss right now, I will throw you off the Eiffel Tower the next time we're there."

"Why Mari. I wouldn't dream about denying you a kiss. Even if there are nicer ways to ask."

"Adrien?"

"Yes my lady?"

"Shut-up." She had to stand on tip-toe to close the distance but it was so worth it. Her lips crushed hard into his and there was no innocent kiss here; it was like being deprived of water for days and finally, finally getting to drink. He pulled her closer by pulling lightly on her hips. She tightened her arms just so slightly on his neck and unlaced her fingers to drag them softly through his hair. Opening her mouth, she implored him to do the same. He obliged. She tasted of cookies, the snack she'd had before their lessons had started, and sweetness and everything that made the world right. Marinette remembered how well he'd responded on Friday when she nibbled his lip and so, she conducted a repeat performance, nibbling just enough to force a soft, needy groan from his throat.

Adrien moved his hands to behind her back. He wanted to do more but he also was afraid; afraid that the moment would be broken, afraid that he would hurt her, afraid that he would be over stepping his boundaries when this was all just starting for the both of them.

They broke apart after several seconds, panting heavily. He looked her over like he'd done on Friday. Only this time, he saw the full effect his kiss had had. Her face was flushed red, her eyes still half-lidded and her lips swollen, slightly colored, and looking very, very alluring again; he licked his own briefly. Their hearts raced. Without a word, they moved together, their lips crushing hard into each other, hands exploring, soft noises rising from their throats. He led her backwards until she hit a solid wall. He raised her up then so that she no longer had to stand on tip-toe but now had to wrap her legs tightly around his waist. She just fit so perfectly against him. She was soft and strong, beauty and power, all in one tiny package that he relished feeling beneath him after so long. He knew he would love the girl under the mask but he'd never imagined the feeling would have been this powerful.

They broke apart, finally, after several more minutes passed. She smiled down at him, taking a hand to stroke his cheek before cupping his redden face and peppering gentle kisses on his forehead, cheeks, and nose. He smiled up at her.

"Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?"

"What? Kiss Ladybug?"

Adrien smiled softly but gently sat her back on her feet. His hands didn't come from behind her though. The room was quiet and that silence was loud on their ears; it mingled with the ragged edge of their breathing. "Yes," he admitted. "I did want to kiss Ladybug. More accurately, I wanted to kiss the girl underneath that mask." He leaned his forehead on hers. "Marinette, the first time I met Ladybug, I realized that she was amazing. The second time, I realized that no matter who was under the mask, I would love them unconditionally." This time, he kissed her forehead. "Every day since then," he kissed her cheek, "I've dreamed of finding out," he kissed her other cheek, "who you were under that mask," he kissed her nose, "so I could fulfill that promise." He pressed a gentle kiss on her lips, ending his journey. Marinette returned it. When he pulled back, he saw a smile on her face but he noticed it didn't reach her eyes. They were filled with worry. Adrien raised his hands to pull her into a tight embrace. She nuzzled her face into his chest. "I know... I know with the way Chat and I acted, it's... it's hard to believe that what I'm saying is true but I want to prove it to you Marinette. I want to prove that you're the one I love, not Ladybug. So," he smiled, moving to raise her head by gently grabbing her chin and turning her to face him.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, will you go on a date with me?"