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. ]

Comments

[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!