Finally Found

T W E L V E

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"What the hell happened last night Tikki?"

Marinette awoke with a groan the next morning. She forcefully pushed herself in a sitting position in her bed and she reached up to touch the edge of her forehead which was currently home to the worlds worst headache.

"I'm not surprised you don't remember." Tikki muttered just loud enough for Marinette to hear her.

"What do you mean?"

"It's bad..." Sighed the Kwami who had settled herself beside Marinette.

"Tell me." Mari demanded, even though she could feel within herself that she really didn't want to know the answer.

"Marinette, you almost revealed your identity to Adrien! If I hadn't distracted you by shouting Akuma, you most certainly would have! Not to mention, you told Adrien you loved him." Tikki ranted without catching a breath.

Marinette blinked.

And blinked again.

"I WHAT?!!!"

She shot up from her bed and began pacing back and forth, pulling at her hair and rambling insults at herself, wondering how on Earth she could have been so careless and not even remember any of it.

"I really did that, didn't I? This can't be happening. I have to move schools and dye my hair and change my name... maybe I can convince my parents to leave the country? How did this even happen?" Mari trembled as she begged her Kwami for an answer.

"I asked myself the same thing, Marinette. So I went over last nights events and came to a simple conclusion." Tikki spoke calmly to her owner.

"Which is?" Asked Marinette as she came to a halt from her pacing.

"The refreshments were spiked."

"Spiked? As in they had alcohol in them?" Mari raised her brows in total confusion.

"Yes. And you had a lot to drink so it only makes sense that you were in a drunken state when you declared your feelings to Adrien and almost shared your most deepest secret."

"Oh my..." Marinette slapped her palm on her forehead. "Remind me to bring my own drinks next time I go to a party so that doesn't happen again. Who knows what might happen."

"Good thinking. Next time we might not be so lucky." Breathed Tiki.

🐞🐕

Meanwhile at the Agreste Mansion

"Plagg... did last night really happen?" Adrien mused as he laid back on his bed that morning, staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought. His Kwami, Plagg, sat beside him nibbling on a slice of Camembert, completely unfazed by his owners distraught state.

"Yup." Plagg mumbled with his mouthful, unable to give Adrien his full attention while the cheese was in his hands.

Adrien sighed as he took a glance at Plagg. "You're no help, as always."

He sat up from his position on the bed. "Marinette basically declared her love for me and I have no idea how I feel about that. On one hand, Ladybug has always been the girl I love most, but on the other hand... there's something about Mari that intrigues me.

When I danced with her as Chat Noir, I felt something... something more than friendship."

"Well then tell her that, Romeo." Plagg rolled his eyes, becoming frustrated.

"I can't... Ladybug-."

"Ladybug loves someone else. Remember? That's what she said."

Adrien's shoulders dropped as he was reminded of the truth.

Plagg looked at his owner and a twinge of emotion rose inside him. He felt bad for him, of course, but he couldn't help but find the whole situation somewhat amusing.

Adrien loved Ladybug and Ladybug loved Adrien.

It was their own alter egos standing in the way of their feelings.

Plagg figured that if Adrien just gave Marinette a chance then he could actually be with the girl he's been chasing this entire time (even though he wouldn't know it.)

"Look, it's obvious there's something going on between you and Marinette. Don't you think you owe it to yourself and to her to at least explore that?" Plagg responded.

"What do you mean?" Adrien's ear perked up when he heard Plagg actually give him some advice for a change.

Plagg huffed and muttered, "you really are daft."

The black cat whizzed up from his place and flew right up in Adrien's face. "Explore... Marinette." He said slowly.

"Woah, Plagg?! I don't know if you know this, but I'm not that kind of guy." Adrien protested, feeling a little shocked that Plagg would even suggest that.

"What? NO! That's not what I meant. I simply mean you should ask the girl out!" Plagg belted.

"Oh... I don't know about that. I mean, she's my friend." Stammered Adrien.

The kitty sighed. "Sometimes the best relationships start with a friendship, Adrien."

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Later that night, after heeding his Kwami's advice, Adrien transformed into Chat Noir and found himself on the top balcony of the Dupain-Cheng's home.

He took a deep breath, readying himself before proceeding to knock on the skylight door.

There was a click and rattle and the door opened, revealing a tired looking Marinette, dressed in her usual pyjamas.

Her eyes widened in the darkness, adjusting to the lack of light.

Her light voice uttered his name. "Chat?"

"Princess." He simply responded.

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