Losing Identities

Chapter 11

Adrien's POV

"Marinette," I whisper, looking at the girl a meter away from me.

Ladybug.

The brave one who fought alongside me.

The sweet one who always helped me.

The one I loved, mask on or off.

"Marinette," I say again, letting her name melt my heart.

She glances at me with teary eyes.

Those gorgeous bluebell eyes.

I pull her close to me and kiss her.

She doesn't kiss back.

"I failed you," she says.

"No. You responded to my call for help. You fought the villains. You tried your best to save me. The rest was all chance. There's nothing else you could have done."

"I could have gotten you out sooner. I could have..."

"Shh." I stroke her hair. "It's okay."

"It's not okay! Hawk Moth has my miraculous now!" she sobs.

I'm silent. I don't know what to say.

"And you said Chat Noir's not going to answer me..."

My heart sinks. "He... he can't."

"Where is he?"

"He's right here." I gently take her hand and kiss it.

Marinette stares at me, openmouthed. "You..."

"Yes," I whisper. "They took my miraculous, too."

She sobs even harder. "Hawk Moth..."

Tears pool in my eyes, and I find myself crying too. All the power in the world is now in the hands of a supervillain. We're in extreme danger. And there's nothing we can do.

I hug Marinette tight. She hugs me back.

At least I know who the girl behind the mask is. At least I have time to hold her, to cherish all the memories we shared. At least I have time to love her.

"I'm sorry I was so harsh to you all those times..." she sniffles.

"It's okay. You were only doing what you believed was right."

"Adrien, part of the reason why I kept rejecting you as Chat Noir was that... I loved you."

"You... loved me?" I can't help but gasp. "Me as Adrien?"

"You didn't notice?"

"Well, maybe... I never thought of it as signs of a crush." I nuzzle the top of her head. "But now I know."

Despite her tears, she giggles.

"Marinette, my lady, I promise I'll never leave you," I pledge. "If that's what you want."

"Adrien... Kitty..." she says bashfully.

"Really. I love you."

"I love you too."

This time, she accepts a kiss.

Hi friends.  How are you feeling on a scale from one to ten?

I'm a seven at the moment.  I had a great day and now I'm just recovering from my typical evening mood crash.

Song:  Oh Ms. Believer by Twenty-One Pilots

I do not own the song or the video.