After cleansing an akuma, Chat Noir usually avoids heading straight to Marinette's. Spending any time with Ladybug, even when just finishing a job, it was difficult for him to redraw the line between his lady and his…actual lady. He was alarmed by how much Marinette reminded him of Ladybug. The way he was comforted by each of them was too similar. After all, he was the one that would take the fall to protect Ladybug, and each time both ladies in his life would fret and caress his hair in the same fashion, making sure he was whole and there. His sense of loyalty would falter when he would look at his beautiful Marinette and see her wearing Ladybug's suit instead.

So it was rare that he would immediately rush over to her apartment after cleansing an akuma. He would be the one out of the two to comfort the victim and soothe their worries. He would even make sure that they were brought back to their home safely. But today he was itching to leave the scene early. His mind had been on Marinette all day and it had led him to be distracted while fighting. And since he used Cataclysm earlier than Ladybug used Lucky Charm, he bounded over towards Marinette's earlier than usual.

To his surprise, Marinette's apartment was empty. He had texted her before the akuma and knew that she was working from home today and she usually stayed in one place until the akuma was cleansed, as per Chat's request. At least that's what he thought she did.

He sat down on her couch, and sighed, letting his transformation finally go with a final beep. He slid out his pre-packaged cheese for Plagg, who immediately devoured the entire roll. Satiated albeit grumpy, he allowed Adrien to transform again. It was then that he heard something land on the balcony and open the door. He turned in his seat in time to see Ladybug say something and transform into...Marinette.

Chat ducked his head down behind the couch and like a cat shocked immobile, he held his breath. His heart beat out of control in his chest, and he felt perspiration form above his brow. He didn't know if he had gasped at the revelation or not, but his mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he just witnessed. Marinette...his sweet, tiny, and beautiful Marinette, was just flipping over rooftops and fighting an akuma alongside him. The two people he loved the most were one.

He heard Marinette speak to what he assumed was her kwami as she passed the couch and entered her room. He could make out her talking about the fight and the victim. He also heard his name a couple times but he was still unsure of how to react to this new-found information.

First, he had to stop hiding and make himself known. With silent cat-like steps, he maneuvered over to the balcony door and slid them open and then closed, announcing his pseudo arrival.

Marinette quickly stepped out of her room and rushed to him. "Minou, are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you hungry?" She embraced him before grasping his arm and pulling him over to the kitchen table. He sat down and let her fret over him, wondering if he should be the one doing the fretting this time. After all, she was the one who took a nasty hit from the akuma earlier.

Chat didn't understand how he had never put the pieces together. She looks just like her. He stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time, taking in the dark blue hair, the wide, bluebell eyes, and thick eyelashes. Her pink lips, curled under her teeth in worry.

Chat shook his head silently and took Marinette's hand in his. "I'm okay, Princess. Much better now that I see you."

Marinette smiled softly and kissed his nose. "You silly kitty."

Ah, and there it was. She didn't usually say it. Ladybug said that most of the time, but when Marinette would slip it through, it sounded exactly the same. How could he have been so blind.

"I want you to know who I am," he suddenly said.

Marinette pulled away slowly from his arms. "Minou...it's too dangerous."

"This!" He threw his hand between the two of them. "This is already dangerous! I love you. I'm sorry I'm so selfish but I want to take you on a date, Marinette."

Marinette pulled back more, looking confused and hurt.

"Please, Mari," he begged. "I want to meet your parents. I want you to meet my father. I want to live with you in my civilian form and sleep with you every night." His words were sounding garbled now. "I want to have a home with you. I want to take down Hawk Moth and when I do, I promise I will give you as many babies as you want. I want to give you everything, Marinette."

He didn't realize he was crying until she touched his cheek and wiped his tears for him. She stood between his legs now and embraced him as he cried into her stomach. Her hand tenderly ran through his hair as he calmed his breathing, holding onto her as if to hold her very existence.

He sniffled and looked up at her. "I know I'm asking too much of you. I know you deserve more. And better. But I love you so much. I can't let anyone else have you."

Marinette shook her head slowly, petting his hair. "That's alright, Chaton. We're meant for each other." She sighed loudly. "Please don't cry, Minou. I want those things too. I just...I have to be honest with you too, my kitty."

"I know," he said, looking her in her eyes and willing her to understand.

"You know...what?"

Chat cleared his throat. "I know."

"H-how?" she pushed away from him and pulled on her hair in distress.

"It's okay!" he stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay. I understand. We've been hiding from each other because we needed to protect our identities. I-If I have known earlier, I would have approached you differently...as my civilian self instead."

Marinette shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "When did you find out?"

"Uhhh," Chat scratched the back of his neck, looking up like he didn't want to say.

"W-wait a second," Marinette gasped. "No...No you're not! You can't be."

Chat looked at her and saw her watching his hand. Who would have thought that his habit would give him away...finally. He grinned at her. "Are you disappointed?"

"What? No! I mean, what, I don't know what you're talking about." Marinette flushed, her face turning a cute shade of pink that he adored.

"Okay. I'm going to do it," he resolved, standing straight.

"Wait! Are you sure, Chat? There's no going back if you do."

"You worry too much, Marinette. Nothing is going to change. We love each other too much, my love. Plagg, claws out."

Marinette watched his detransformation with wide eyes. Plagg came out of his ring, hollering "Finally!" A red kwami flew out of the bedroom, ramming into Plagg and tumbling midair as they hugged.

"Well, milady," Adrien smirked in a very Chat-like way. "Disappointed or what?"

Marinette stepped closer, her cheeks still pink. She latched her hands onto his shirt and jerked him to her until their lips crashed. He softly cradled her face and caressed her wet cheeks as tears spilled out.

"I love you, Marinette."

"I love you too, Adrien."

It felt so good to hear that.


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