The one and only

4 - He's not you

"Mhmm... I like your purring..." Marinette whispered.

"Really?" he was surprised.

"It's so cute..." she admitted and hugged him. "Do you know it comes from somewhere inside you?"

"I know." He nodded, still confused by the purring that he couldn't control. And at the same time, he was moved by her reaction to it.

"Don't think I'm trying to take advantage of you but you could be useful from time to time."

"To purr?" he smiled.

"Uhm... Your purring can have a therapeutic effect."

"I like being useful, Princess. But... Does it mean you're in trouble?" he became interested.

"I'm just a little worried, Cat." Marinette whispered.

"What are you worried about?"

"I'll have to break someone's heart." she confessed suddenly.

"Mine?" He asked quietly and felt his heart froze.

"Sure... That's why I'm embracing you to break your heart. Oh, I'll kiss you to mislead you!"

"I don't mind your tricks. Just don't break up with me."

"I won't."

"So, who's that poor guy?"

"Don't make fun of him. It's really hard for me."

"You like him?"

"Of course, I like him. If I didn't, it wouldn't hurt me so much."

"But do you like him?"

"He's my friend." Marinette admitted. "And I think... That he probably likes me. You know... That kind of like."

"Oh..." Cat Noir murmured, guessing immediately who they were talking about. And he wasn't sure if he was happy or sad. "So, what's wrong with him?" He asked directly, and she looked at him as if he asked her if the Earth was round.

"He's not you." She replied simply.

"What if he was me?" He asked, afraid of hearing her answer.

"Oh, that would solve a lot of problems. But even Ladybug isn't so lucky in life." Escaped from Marinette, and she quickly corrected herself: "Wouldn't. She wouldn't be so lucky."

"So, would you accept my worse self?" Cat Noir continued, not paying attention to her slip of the tongue.

"What do you mean saying: worse?" she was surprised. "After all, when you're not Cat Noir, you're still yourself, right? Or rather, when you're Cat Noir, you're still yourself."

"Then why do you love me as Cat Noir and you want to break the heart of my civilian-self?"

"I can't love two boys at once." she confessed. "I had to refuse one of you."

"Wait. So, if I talked to you as Adrien first, then you'd be with him and you'd break Cat Noir's heart?" He asked, and only Marinette's shocked look made him realise what he had said.

"As A-Adrien?" she stammered.

"I think it's too late for denying." He sighed. "Plagg, claws in..."

Marinette squeaked when, a moment later, she realised that she was hugged by Adrien Agreste. Actually, nothing had changed. After all, it was still the boy she loved. And who loved her.

"That wasn't part of the plan, kid..." Plagg muttered, hiding behind the Adrien's collar. His green eyes crossed with Marinette's blue eyes. "Master Fu won't be happy..."

"Why did you do that?" Marinette asked, moving her gaze to Adrien.

He blushed.

"I've blurted out my identity."

"So have I! So what?"

"What?" he spotted.

"Uhm, nothing..." she restrained herself instantly.

"I think it doesn't make sense to continue this comedy..." Plagg muttered. "Just live happily ever after. And leave me alone. Tikki? Are you there, my sugarcube?"

Marinette giggled.

"Even I don't call her like this. If I were you I would be more careful about my words."

"Be quiet, stinky-sock!" a thin voice in Marinette's room replied, and Adrien felt that he lost contact with the reality.

"I missed you too!" Plagg grinned and flew inside the room, leaving his holder with an astonished face.

"I don't understand anything. What was that?" Adrien asked quietly.

"Well..." Marinette smiled. "I'd say that your coming-out has amazing consequences. I had no idea they knew each other so well."

"What do you mean: they?"

"Adrien, Adrien... You're one of the smartest guys I know. Put two and two together." She smiled wider at him and then she leaned in and whispered just millimetres from his lips. "I'm so glad that you're truly my one and only, Cat..."

And then she kissed him.

He embraced her tightly and enthusiastically continued kissing, not even trying to understand what had just happened. His head buzzed with happiness. She'd said he was one of the smartest boys she knew. She kissed him. So, he could assume that she lost her head for him. He didn't care about anything else.