See just how purrfect it is [ ML ;; MariChat]

[impurrfect]

[ Even though it really hadn't felt like too long of a stretch since he'd seen her, boredom and the inability to keep himself focused on his homework had lead Adrien's mind to wander back to Marinette. There was something he wanted to ask her about, such as maybe seeing what she thought about him and Ladybug being on T.V not so long ago. However, he couldn't just go and see her just because his father or Nathalie would scold him for leaving the house so late or not let him go.

Even if he claimed it was for some kind of study session.

Though just because he couldn't go, it didn't mean Chat Noir wouldn't be able to pay his princess a little visit. Plagg exhaled an irritated sigh and shot Adrien a pointed look as he stood up, contentedly nibbling at some camembert and looking like he'd rather just stay planted right where he was. ]

Really, kid? I just got started on this! Can't you go out later?!

[ Adrien just offered something of a smile, along with a light laugh as he shook his head. ]

Sorry. Something's been bugging me, that's all. Promise it won't take that long and we'll be back soon enough anyway.

[ With that in mind, he transformed into Chat Noir and took his usual way out, jumping along rooftops with relative ease until he finally reached the Dupain-Cheng residence and noticed Marinette's one window was open. Which meant an opportunity and he hopped over onto the roof near it, peering in and tapping his clawed hand against the glass lightly so he could get her attention. ]

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[luckyspots]

[She should have been studying herself, but lately-- she'd been having trouble focusing on her day life. Her mind kept drifting off to Chat Noir. All this time she'd assumed his foolish flirting was just a natural habit of his. Not this very real, very... sweet... crush. Even though she'd told him the truth-- and that hadn't changed really-- why was it that she couldn't forget that sweet gesture from the other night?]

Ughhhhhh...

[She rubbed her hands over her head in frustration. Her grades were going to start suffering if she didn't get her lives back in order. But what could she do?

That thought was disrupted by a sharp tapping noise. Her eyes darted to the window in surprise, only to find herself jumping a moment later when she was met with the face of the very superhero that was occupying her thoughts. She stumbled over to the window and let him in with an awkward laugh.]

Chat Noir...? To what do I owe this surprising honor?

[Act natural, act natural...]

[impurrfect]

[ It went nearly unseen; the way he seemingly rose an eyebrow at seeing how surprised she was at seeing him here. At least before he offered something in way of a light smile instead of his usual overly confident grin, canting his head to the side slightly as he regarded her. ]

Would you believe me if I said I felt the desire to come and see a familiar face? Yours came to mind rather easily, princess.

[ Such was the truth, after all. ]

I don't suppose you'd have a minute so I could come in and chat?

[luckyspots]

Me? Wow... that’s...

[The nervous laugh is back as she rubs the back of her neck.]

—oh! Yeah, of course! C-come in!

[He caught her off guard. If there’s any indication of that— it’s the fact that she forgot to take the pictures of Adrien’s latest shoots and articles on a corner of her wall and hide them. She hadn’t even thought about them.]

[impurrfect]

[ Huh. Was she always this... cute? He hadn't quite really taken the time to notice this before, blinking a bit before nodding and in a rather smooth set of motions? Moved to get inside her room as if it were absolutely nothing at all. ]

I didn't come at a bad time, did I?

[ His tone was lined with an air of subtle amusement and teasing, straightening up and looking around her room before something caught his attention. Mostly the gathering of pictures on the wall, causing a small raise of his eyebrow behind his mask. ]

This is new. What's with the pictures?

[ Honestly. He really did want to know, seeing as he's never seen this many pictures of him just in one place. ]

[luckyspots]

Bad time? What? No! No of course not...

[She immediately denies it. Why does he have to be so smooth when she’s— well. Like this? There’s no mask to hide behind, no comfort in her secret identity. Just... Chat and the real her...

He’d probably be real surprised if he knew the girl he thought was so wonderful was really... this.

But she doesn’t have much time to dwell on that slightly depressing train of thought when she realizes she forgot something really important. Marinette dove over, snatching the pictures from the wall after almost falling on her face diving over her computer chair.]

N-n-n-nothing! Yeah! Totally nothing. I have... no idea... what you’re talking about! Aha..hah...

[Oh god kill her now. She didn’t need Chat knowing about her life like that— even if he didn’t know she was Ladybug. It was... embarrassing! Yeah, that’s it.]

[impurrfect]

[ Even in her haste to get rid of all the pictures, it hadn't stopped him from seeing just who those were all of in their entirety. A soft hum left him and he moved over so he could lean in close to her, head tilted to the side. ]

So. You like that model guy, huh? What's his name? Adrien Agreste?

[ Gotta play it up the best he can, using his genuine curiosity to roll with this. Normally he doesn't pry about these things but he really does want to know... ]

Is it the looks or something else that drew you in, hmmm?

[luckyspots]

[A strangled high-pitched squeak comes out of her mouth as she shoves the images down into a corner of the bed. Oh good. Her face is burning right now. Why did he have to see this?! She's never going to hear the end of it. Now is a good time to take some confidence from Ladybug. She doesn't want to let her secret crush get out.

...what could go wrong?]

Bad kitty.

[She pokes him in the chest.]

No one said anything about liking anyone. I just... happen... to lo-- [...she should really think about what she's saying before she says it.] --ve... his work.

[U g h.]

[impurrfect]

[ Hold on a second.

Chat just blinked a couple of times after that, raising a hand to his chest and trying to just process that deja-vu he just experienced. How many times had Ladybug done that in the past whenever he'd tried to flirt with her? He would definitely remember the way she did exactly that gesture while calling him 'kitty'.

Wait. Wait. This couldn't be a coincidence.

It's enough that he almost missed it when she spoke up again, raising an eyebrow behind his mask. His heart was pounding in his chest so loudly that he was surprised she couldn't hear it. There was one way he could go about this and if it worked? He'd have his answer. ]

His work is nothing compared to yours, M'lady. Don't you think?

[ This time Chat let his playful tone seep into his voice now, going with it so easily that he hoped it would work. ]

[luckyspots]

Good try, kitty. But your flattery won't get you anywhere.

[The answer is almost completely automatic. She doesn't have to think too much.

...which is a a problem. A real problem.

She forgot who she was supposed to be. That just... hasn't sunk in yet.]

[impurrfect]

[ Just like that, his eyes widened. That was it.

No doubt about it. This wasn't just some clever acting; this was purely natural and came so easily that he couldn't just ignore it. How could he not have seen it before? A more clear-minded individual would have just kept up the act and rolled with it, but this was all just sinking in.

All the times Marinette and Ladybug weren't in the same area at the same time, the confident, sassy nature and more to the point? Her hair really was exactly like hers and yet all this time he hadn't noticed it or figured it out in the slightest.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was his Ladybug. The girl he was hopelessly in love with. ]

Oh yeah? I believe it already has.

[ The confidence in his voice is all but absent now as he moved in, reaching a hand out to briefly touch against her left earring before a small laugh escaped him. ]

You know... I'm glad you're my Ladybug, Marinette. All this time I couldn't see it, and here you were beside me all along.

[luckyspots]

[That does it. For a moment, it feels like her heart has stopped. He knows... she really messed up. The secret that she'd fought to protect was out. And yet it's impossible for her to do little but stare, as his gentle hand lifts to her ear.]

Wh--

[is it even possible to save this? ...no. It's too late for that.]

...I really messed up, huh?

[Her expression hardens and she pokes at his chest again, sharper this time.]

You can't tell anyone about this. Ever. Got it? I'm... trusting you. With my deepest and most dangerous secret. I need to know that I can count on you. No one else can know. You're the only one I can trust with this.

[Even if-- it was entirely unintentional.]

[impurrfect]

[ Perhaps it was her just accepting it that solidified things for him in his mind, or just that it still didn't do anything for just how much he did still love her. He'd once told others he just thought of Marinette as a friend, but this changed everything and explained a lot to why he'd always felt at ease around her compared to most people.

He emphasized the seriousness of the matter at hand by nodding with something almost contemplative and gentle on his face in this moment. ]

I never had the slightest intention to ever give away or tell anyone your secret to begin with, but... to even out the playing field, here's my most dangerous and deep secret.

[ Exhaling a breath, Chat reached out to take one of Marinette's hands within his own before closing his eyes. Yeah. It was now or never. ]

Plagg, claws in.

[ In a flash of green light, the transformation was undone and in it's place was not Chat Noir but Adrien. The very same who could only give something of a small smile, even as Plagg shot him a look and sighed. Saying something about 'It's about time this happened anyway' before flying off to somewhere nearby. ]

I know who you are, and now you know it's me behind that mask. Hope it's not disappointing or anything.

[luckyspots]

[Marinette forces herself to take a deep breath. She should stop him, but-- she doesn't. Instead she braces herself. Although she knows it's wrong... that they shouldn't... she wants to know. And the truth completely astonishes her.

How many times has she told herself that this couldn't possibly be? Even before it being true aligned so much with what... would have made her life easier or happier... it just seemed impossible to think that Chat Noir could be the same person as Adrien. They were... completely different.

But if she'd just considered how different she was as Ladybug, maybe she might not have passed it off so quickly as something that couldn't be.

It doesn't make her expression now any less shocked. She's pretty sure she's making the dumbest face right now and she can't help that.]

Wh... dis... disappointing? N-no! No. No. I'm--! This is...

[...oh my god he saw the pictures.

This is. MmmmmMMMMM.]

...great! Great. It's.... great!