If Only

semantics | part 1

title: If Only

ships: adrienette, marichat, ladynoir

genre: romance, angst, drama

date: I don't know honestly (august 2020?)

Hope you all enjoy!

***

Swinging into her room after a long few hours fighting Hawkmoth's most recent akuma victim, Marinette's room was a welcome sight. Drenched in sweat, blood from a few cuts she had received, and lord knows what else, the best idea for now was to take a hot steamy shower. After a quick detransformation, she saw Tikki fly over to her cookie stash, ready to gobble any sweet in sight. I don't blame her, she thought to herself. In response her stomach grumbled. Grabbing a fluffy towel and a tank top with sweatpants, Marinette quickly dragged herself to the bathroom on the lower level of their family's apartment.

When she crept up the stairs and opened the trapdoor after a nice shower, the twin tailed girl smiled at the sight of her Kwami. Tikki was all wrapped up in the little "bed" that Marinette had sewn her along with a matching pillow and blanket. Wanting to follow Tikki's example, she climbed the last few steps to her loft bed, kissed her Kwami's forehead and succumbed to sleep.

***

On the other hand, a certain model across the Seine could not sleep a wink. The poor blonde was fantasizing about his and Ladybug's almost kiss while fighting their last Akuma, Romeo, who had a flair for love and the dramatics, angered that not all Parisians experienced love in the city of love. Adrien snorted at the thought of how harmless Hawkmoth's recent akumas have been. In fact, most had worked in their favor. Tonight, especially, Romeo was more than welcome to use a little magic to bring together his OTP, Ladynoir. Unfortunately, his lady was having none of it and put a stop to the akuma as soon as she could, leaving Chat Noir without a kiss.

"Plagg, will I ever find out who Ladybug is?" Adrien asked in a whisper to his drowsy, full of camembert, Kwami.

"I dunno, kid. What you should be asking yourself is why you aren't entertaining the thought of cheese becoming your first love. I'll put in a good word for you, after all, camembert is practically the queen of cheese. One of the cheeses will have to take you," Plagg replied.

"Ugh, Plagg. Why do I even talk to you."

"Because without me, you couldn't talk to your 'lady'," the little black cat teased.

Adrien knew it was foolish but he stuck his tongue out in response. For someone who had no childhood, he certainly acted like it in his teenage years. The blonde rolled over in his bed and could hear the soft snores from Plagg cut the silence in the vast room. Ladybug. Why did she trouble his thoughts so much? Who is behind the mask? Would they ever reveal to one another their true selves? When? Would his lady like him?

Agh...

He needed to do something. Sleep was obviously evading him so in a last minute decision he transformed. He could hear Plagg's cry of nooooooo but Adrien was already flying out the window.

There was a reason that the model always volunteered for more patrols than necessary. He was denied the freedom in his real life that he was able to experience as Chat Noir. Ladybug always seemed worried when he would patrol when it was her turn or find him exploring the city early into the morning. His love for the spotted heroine was always renewed with vigor, knowing she was worried about him. Some would say it's because they are partners, friends even, but Chat knew better. She loved him. She would never say it, true, but deep down the blonde knew without a doubt.