Ordinary

Chapter 12: My Other Half

  "Wait... So your telling me- his celebrity crush is ladybug?" I nodded nervously, "Y-yeah! C-crazy right?" Alya tapped her chin, "Well, Ladybug is one of the biggest female inspirations in all of Paris. I'm not surprised he likes her, I mean, a lot of blogs are written of her..."

*cough*

  "Mine being the best- the ladyblog." I rolled my eyes, "I mean, tones of boys have crushes on her- obsessions even. Adrien probably just has a small crush on her. Like- 'Ladybug is cute'- type of crush." I nodded, did he really think I was cute?

---

Adrien

  "Marinette's celebrity crush is Cat Noir?" Nino asked, his eyes a bit more wider then usual. I nodded slowly, feeling a bit flustered yet a bit jealous- of my own self of course- it was a weird (new) feeling that I never thought I would ever experience.

  "Y-yeah! C-crazy right?" Nino tapped his chin, "Well, Cat Noir is one of the biggest male inspirations in all of Paris. I'm not surprised she likes him- look at him! He's pretty hot dude... No homo." I cringed, something about Nino calling my alter ego hot just made me uncomfortable .

  I shook off the feeling, "I mean- tones of girls have crushes on him- obsessions even. Marinette probably just has a small crush on him, like- 'Cat Noir is cute'- type of crush." I nodded slowly, a smile slowly spreading onto my lips. Did she really think I was cute?

***

And of course, my karma had gotten to me...

  Why did this have to happen now? The news had scheduled an interview with Ladybug. And my father... Being my father, had placed me in the show, so they were interviewing us both, at the same time... With Nadia Chamack.

  "Plagg- Don't you find it a bit coincidental that their interviewing Ladybug right after I said that she was sort of my celebrity crush." Plagg coughed, "You mean-- obsession?" I glared at him, "Don't say that! I'm in love with Marinette."

  He blinked twice, not seeming amused whatsoever. "I think it's just bad luck." He smirked, satisfied with the pun he had made. I glared at him, and he hid in my jacket the moment the door opened.

   "Adrien, ready for action?" The assistant questioned, I smiled awkwardly, "Uhh- yeah." I said nervously, scratching my head as he led me out the door. Plagg muttered something about cheese as I made it to the podcast room.

  "Don't be the bemused! It's just the news!" Nadia called out as they filmed her, "Today we are here with two of the most biggest inspirations of Paris! Sadly, we couldn't reach out to Cat Noir... But we have Adrien Agreste! And Ladybug!"

  Ladybug was already sitting on the couch, nervously clutching her yoyo as I sat beside her. The camera pointed over to us as Nadia began to ask questions.

  "So tell me Ladybug, what's it like being one of the best inspirations of feminism? and the very partner of Cat Noir?" I could see Ladybug blush a little, "U-umm... It's really great being a superhero. I get to save people with my pun loving partner Cat Noir, and it makes me feel like a better person."

  "It's such an honor to be able to save so many people! And just... Swing through the air with the breeze flowing through your hair and the adrenaline just... Rushing through your veins! The feeling is unexplainable..." Ladybug said.

  I smiled a little, "Cat Noir can be serious when he needs to be, he's really nice and his puns are totally bizarre... He's a fun person to work with and he's so easy to trust." Her eyes beamed, my cheeks turning a bit red as she rambled on and on about me.

  I knew I shouldn't have felt the flutter in my chest, but something about when she talked just reminded me so much of... Marinette... "And what about you Adrien? What's it like being a model?" I almost choked on nothing but my spit.

Awful.

  "It's pretty fun actually, I get to meet a lot of people and see a lot of places. It's tough sometimes, not getting much privacy and always seeing your face on the bill boards, but I don't mind it really." Liar. Ladybug looked at me in disbelief, but quickly smiled when I caught her staring.

  "And what about your father, being the most famous fashion designer in all of Paris?" I know I shouldn't have... But it sort of hurt, the question itself. "Actually... My father could be pretty strict sometimes..." Ladybug narrowed her eyebrows.

   "I-i try my best to make him happy ever since... The incident that happened with my mom... So I agreed to model for him. I try my best in school, and... Everywhere. But sometimes I just wish I was a normal dude with a happy family."

  Nadia nodded, "We'll be back, after this short commercial break!" Nadia smiled and the camera man made the signal to cut. Nadia got up and began preparing for after the ads, practicing her script in the back of the studio. I looked back at Ladybug just in time for her to look down.

   I smiled a little, there hadn't been too much akumas lately, and I had been hanging out with Marinette every chance I got. So when I saw Ladybug during akumas I was always distracted with the villain. But I couldn't help but notice the spark of familiarity I found in her.

  Under the lid of her mask I could spot a few freckles, and it instantly reminded me of the freckles that stained Marinette's porcelain cheeks. Her freckles were in the exact same space Marinette's were, and suddenly I felt somewhat suspicious.

  I didn't realize how long I had been staring at her, and she seemed a bit uncomfortable. I mentally cursed myself as I wanted to apologize but realized it would make the awkward situation even worse. "S-so..." I spoke stupidly, she glanced at me.

  I noticed the slight tint of red that beamed from under her mask, and she seemed a little nervous. She looked back at her hands in her lap, but I had captured the moment she stared at me, and instantly I was reminded of the same Sapphire blue eyes that my girlfriend shared.

  I felt suspicious, as I looked at her hair, remembering the same gorgeous midnight locks that I ran my fingers through whenever I kissed Marinette's lips. I blushed a little as I stared at her lips, soft... Naturally pink and glossed with strawberry chapstick.

Could it be...?

  "Let's get back to the show!" Nadia said casually, swooping in and sitting in her chair as the cast got in position. "And we are live, in 5, 4, 3 ,2, 1, action!"

***

  I wandered around, the show has finally finished. And the awkward tension between me and Ladybug had officially demolished as I walked through the cast room. I spotted the door with the star sign that said: cast and leaned against the door.

  I could hear faint talking, the voice seemed to belong to Marinette. But of course, it was obviously Ladybug. I smirked, hearing her converse with her kwami. I knew what I could do to find out, so I pulled out my phone and went to contacts.

Adrien: Hey Marinette, wanna hang out? The show just ended.

  Sure enough, went I sent it I heard her phone ring through the door and was sure that Ladybug, was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, was the utter love of my life and ultimate soulmate. The other half... To my heart.

And the Ladybug, to my Cat Noir.