The Things We Try To Hide | Mainly MariChat (On Hold)

Prologue

Note: The ~~~ symbolizes a change in POV, it will only alternate between Marinette and Adrien unless specified otherwise, the chapters also all start on Marinette's POV unless specified otherwise.

"Pound it?" Chat Noir asks, his fist extended towards me. The akumas have been getting harder to fight and we haven't had any extra time lately.

I put my fist out to touch his, "Pound it!" We say in unison, and we begin walking the ex-Akuma back home.

After he's back home, our miraculouses start beeping, "Well, I guess this is goodbye until tomorrow, M'lady." Chat's voice sounds disappointed and I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Look, I've been thinking, we've worked together for a long time and I-" The miraculouses begin rapidly beeping, "We can reveal who we are, under one condition."

He smirks, "I'm listening."

"We cannot tell anyone, or let anyone know the other person's identity."

He nods, "Yes, and I believe once you know who I am you will love me as much as I love you." He swiftly grabs my hand and lays a soft kiss on the back.

A flash of green and red signifies the beginning of detransformation, "A-oh, sorry." His kwami speaks, his high and raspy voice apologizes and exclaims at the sight of mine "Tikki!" I can only assume they're hugging because I'm squeezing my eyes together so hard.

"Marinette?" Chat whispers, "Marinette!" he exclaims, swiping me up into a hug and spining in circles. "Marinette?" he asks, putting me down, "Open your eyes, please."

I slowly open my eyes and see, "ADRIEN?!" All the blood rushes to my head and I bury my face in my hands. He takes my hands and pulls them away to look me in the eyes, the setting sun illuminating his face with a golden glow.

"I'm so happy it's you! I was worried it might be Chloé, but it's you!" He hugs me again but pulls away quicker. He turns around, rubs the back of his neck -like he normally does when he's nervous- and turns to face me again. His smile is gone and a frown is in its place, "It doesn't matter now. You're in love with someone else, not me."

"No! I mean- Yes! - Wait!" I pause trying to keep my thoughts in line, "You're the one I'm in love with Adrien. It's always been you, ever since you gave me that umbrella."

He grabs my face and leans in with closed eyes. I close my eyes when I begin to feel his warm breath on my lips and- "Marinette!" A small voice chimes, "Marinette! You're going to be late for school."

I open my eyes and I'm in my bed, Just a dream, I think. I can feel the frown forming on my face as I bury myself deeper into the blankets, trying to finish my fantasy.

"Marinette!" Tikki tries her hardest to uncover me but I have the death grip.

"No!" I had been up all night with Chat fighting the akuma, that I didn't get much sleep, "Tikki, can I just get some sleep? Just go tell mom I'm sick."

"Wow, Marinette, you really are sleep deprived," I groan as I flip to face her.

"What do you- Oh, right. My parents don't know I'm Ladybug. Can't I tell them now? They're always worried about me when there's an akuma because they can't reach me, wouldn't it just make sense?"

"No, Marinette, I bet they'll be even more worried and they might accidentally tell other Parisians."

"Right, I'm sorry, Tik-"

"Marinette, time for school!" Mom calls, and with a sad sigh, I get out of my bed and get ready.

~~~

"Ohhhhhhhhh," His shrill voice cuts through the large open air in my room, "Camembert, oh Camembert! Oh, how I love you, Camembert." Plagg stops singing and shoves a piece of cheese in his mouth, "Mmmmmmm, I love cheese."

I pinch my nose and head to the window wall that resembles prison bars, and place my hand on it. Father hasn't allowed me to go out anymore, not even to school, because of how aggressive

Hawkmoth has been towards Ladybug and Chat Noir lately. I'm happy to know he still cares about me and hasn't forgotten me completely.

"You alright, kid?" Plagg asks, and I turn my head to see he's floating over my shoulder and I shrug.

"I don't know, I just miss Nino, all my friends at school, and," I pause thinking about how Plagg'll react, "and Marinette."

"OoOoOoOo," he sings, "Marinette, huh? What about Ladybug?"

"Plagg, Marinette is just a friend. I don't think of her like I do Ladybug."

"Sure you don't," Ladybug runs in front of my window and flings her yo-yo at something, causing her to fly away.

"Plagg! There's an akuma!" I shout, while being cautious about Nathalie and Father.

"What about what your father?" Plagg asks, and I shoo away the idea, Father never notices when I'm gone, and it's not like he'll care anyway.

"He's fine, he never checks on me. Plagg, claws out!" With a flash of green, I'm in my textured, black, skin-tight catsuit with metal details, matching gloves that have claws on the fingertips and boots with a hidden wedge, silver toes, and paw-shaped treads. A golden bell on my neck, connected to a zipper on the front of my outfit, and a long belt that wraps around my waist and hangs out from the back like a tail. I have black cat ears and a black mask around my eyes. My eyes turn to resemble a cat's with green sclerae, dark green irises and oval pupils. My hair is longer and untamed, covering my normal ears, and my ring turns black and gains a bright green paw print on its face. There is also an extendable staff hooked to my belt.

I open one of the taller, middle windows and jump out, extending my staff and flinging myself to the roof of the building across the road.