Love Square -Adrienette/LadyNoir/MariChat/Ladrien MIRACULOUS LADYBUG FANFIC

CH41 Busted

[Adrien's POV]

"I want to thank you again, Chat." Marinette says softly as she hugs me. "This has been the best birthday ever."

I smile and hug her back. I couldn't have asked for a better way to treat my princess.

The moment is interrupted by Marinette's phone ringing. She pulls away from me to check it.

"It's Alya?"

[Narrator's POV]

Alya's phone had gone off in the middle of the night. It was a notification from her LadyBlog. Someone had given her a tip. Cat Noir had been spotted with a civilian girl. It was too dark to identify her. People are getting excited; is it Ladybug, or does Cat Noir have a secret girlfriend? They were seen travelling on his staff but now they've been lost. No one knows where they went or what they are doing, but Alya is determined to find out.

She sits up and turns to see if Marinette is still asleep, only to find the bed empty. Is Marinette awake? Getting a midnight snack perhaps? Alya sneaks downstairs to see both the boys asleep. She was half-expecting Marinette to be watching over Adrien, but she is not there. Alya goes down to the bakery but it is also empty. It is then that she decides to call Marinette. Alya runs upstairs again as the phone dials, thinking that maybe Marinette is on the balcony. She climbs up into the cool midnight air and leans on the railing. Finally, Marinette picks up.

"Hello?"

"Marinette, where are you?"

"I, uh...I'm talking a midnight stroll."

"I woke up in the middle of the night to find you missing! Do you have any idea how scary that was?"

"I'm sorry Alya, just go back to sleep."

"No way. Cat Noir's been spotted with a girl. Even if I have to search the entire city, even if it takes me all night, I will find them!"

"W-What?! Really?"

Alya hears muffled conversation on the other side of the line.

"Are you with someone?"

Alya looks back towards the house. Adrien is asleep inside, who would Marinette be with?

"What? No. No, I'm just uh..."

More muffled voices.

"You shouldn't go out at night by yourself, Alya. It's dangerous."

"You're out at night by yourself."

Alya places a hand on her hip impatiently. Something's up, her reporter instincts are tingling.

"W-Wait, just, wait there Alya. Stay inside and I'll come back now. I'll go with you."

"Marinette—"

Alya gasps. In the distance she can see Cat Noir riding on his staff. He is coming towards her! The small blur soon becomes more distinguishable. She can see two people!

"I have to go!"

Alya quickly hangs up and runs back down through the bakery. She bursts out into the street to see Cat Noir landing not too far away. He gently puts down the girl he was carrying, they hug briefly and she turns to keep walking.

"Cat Noir!" Alya calls out as she runs towards them.

Cat Noir and the girl freeze. Her face goes pale. Alya stops dead in her tracks.

"Marinette?!"

"A-Alya." Marinette stammers. "I told you to stay inside."

"You told me—What—What are you doing? Why are you with Cat Noir? And how could you keep this from me?!" Alya demands.

"Sh, sh!" Marinette gives an uneasy look at Cat Noir before taking Alya by the arm and leading her towards the bakery. "Let's go inside. I'll explain everything."

"No way!" Alya protests. "I'm interviewing Cat Noir!"

Cat Noir shudders. "Oh, well, would you look at the time. See ya Marinette, er, Happy birthday!"

He quickly extends his staff and disappears into the night.

"Wait!" Alya calls out. "Argh! I can't believe this. I missed my chance!" She turns on Marinette angrily. "What's going on?"

"Calm down." Marinette hurries into the bakery, followed by a disgruntled Alya. "He...He just came to say happy birthday is all."

"Why? Are you two friends? Dating?" Alya suddenly looks galled with shock. She lowers her voice and whispers, "Are you Ladybug?"

"W-What? HAHA! No, what? No!" Marinette says nervously.

"Then what?!" Exclaims Alya.

Marinette sighs and begins to tell Alya about her friendship with Cat Noir, starting from the very beginning.

.

Cat Noir had waited for Marinette and Alya to go inside. He then transformed into Adrien, snuck through Marinette's balcony door and back downstairs. Unfortunately, it was quite dark so he couldn't see anything and ended up tripping over Nino.

Nino groans tiredly. "Dude...what are you doing?"

"Sorry Nino, go back to sleep."

Adrien can hear the voices of Marinette and Alya from downstairs in the bakery. He needs to hear what Marinette is telling Alya. Adrien sneaks out of the living room and down the stairs. He hides behind the wall and listens as Marinette tells Alya all about her encounters with Cat Noir.

"What's going on?" Whispers a voice from behind him.

"AH!" Adrien jumps in fright causing both him and Nino to go toppling into the bakery.

Marinette looks down at Adrien in horror. "What are you guys doing? Were you eavesdropping? H-How much did you hear?"

"We weren't—" Adrien tries.

"All of it." Nino answers honestly.

Marinette has never been more embarrassed in her life. She doesn't know why she wants so desperately to keep her friendship with Cat Noir a secret from Adrien, but the idea of him knowing terrifies her. What if he thinks she likes him?

"So you're friends with Cat Noir? That's wicked! You should get him to introduce Adrien to Ladybug." Nino laughs and elbows Adrien.

"But why would he be interested in you?" Alya questions.

Adrien immediately gets defensive. "Why not? What's wrong with them being friends?"

"Look, I love Cat Noir, but everyone knows he is a flirt." Alya says. "You shouldn't be going out at night alone with a complete stranger."

Adrien opens his mouth to argue but Marinette is the first to reply.

"He's not like that!" She yells.

Adrien looks at Marinette in surprise. Her fists are clenched. Her eyes are flaring. He's never seen her this serious before.

"He's not like that." Marinette repeats calmly. "He's not a stranger, I know everything that I need to about him. He's kind, he's caring, he's funny, and he's a good person."

Adrien's breathing slows. Warmth rises in his chest. Marinette really has grown close with Cat Noir.

Alya sighs and calms herself down. "I'm sorry, Marinette. This just came as such a shock. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You can't write about this on your LadyBlog! None of you can tell anyone, okay?" Marinette urges.

"Sure thang girl. You can trust us." Nino says.

"Of course you can trust us!" Alya agrees, giving Marinette a hug.

"So," Nino says. "Do you like him?"

Marinette's cheeks go red. She can't let Adrien think that!

"N-No!" Marinette denies. She looks at Adrien as if especially reassuring him. "We're just friends."

Adrien of course already knew that, so then...what's this strange feeling tugging at his heart?