Chat Noir was by her side before she'd even landed on top of the Montparnasse Tower.

"Let me see," he said, voice low and serious, almost growling.

Ladybug brushed off his concern with a gentle, if flippant, hand wave.

"It's fine Chat, seriously. The blade barely touched me," she reassured, only to be caught off guard when he grasped her dismissive hand, hugging it to his chest. Her heart jittered to a halt at the way he looked at her, and she'd made her decision even as he pleaded again.

"My lady…please?"

Trying to hold back a sigh, Ladybug led him out of the shadows, where she proceeded to tilt her chin up. The Montparnasse was a tall tower, tall enough so that the street lamps could not illuminate them, however she knew he could use his night-vision if required, and her own eyes had adjusted to the semi darkness. Besides that, the light from the tower and the glow from the city was enough. Her cheek caught the light and, with it, the gash across the side of her face. A faint trickle of blood fell from the open wound. Though it stung a little, Ladybug hadn't been lying when she said she was fine. The cut was shallow and, honestly, she'd had far worse injuries in her day-to-day life, from being her usual clumsy self.

They'd been in the middle of stopping a bank robbery when it happened. At first, the robbers had seemed compliant, as most are when they realise that Ladybug and Chat Noir are on the scene. However, one of the burglars seemed to miss the memo regarding their surrender, catching both Ladybug and Chat off guard by throwing a small pocket knife towards the former. Chat had been on the opposite side of the room when it happened, helping to cuff one of the other burglars, but he'd spotted the knife before Ladybug. It was a split second of gut-wrenching horror as he cried out a warning, as he watched Ladybug try to dodge the attack too late, as the blade sliced her cheek and clattered to the floor.

The burglar was tackled to the floor in seconds, Chat's knee pressed into his back, and Chat had to fight every protective instinct within him to not break the bastard's spine in two. He was a hero, after all.

Back in the present, Ladybug felt the warmth of Chat's head as he rested against her, nose brushing against the side of her face as he sought out her comfort.

"You're going to get blood on you," she whispered fondly.

"Don't care," he grunted back, much like a moping child.

Ladybug chuckled.

"Kitty, you're being silly. I'm ok, nothing that a little 'Miraculous Ladybug' can't fix right up!" she closed her eyes against him, shuffling closer. Reaching up, she dug her fingers into his hair, hoping her cheer, along with her little ministrations against his scalp, might soothe him. However, her efforts were futile, as he continued to fixate on the non-issue. Stubborn kitty.

"I don't like it when you're hurt." Yep. It was official. He was sulking.

"I've been hurt worse," she replied with a hum of indifference.

"I know, and I didn't like it then either," he lifted his head away from her, a cute pout on his face. Sure enough, there was a tiny trace of her blood smudged across his cheek, "you're a better fighter than me, you're- you're amazing. I know that. But I'm supposed to be the fall guy. I'm supposed to be the one who's hurt. That's how it works."

Ladybug was silent then, his words slicing through her far more than the robber's blade. Somehow the situation didn't seem as funny or as silly as it first had. The truth behind his words was heavy, almost suffocating. After all, he was right. No matter how much she disliked it, he was the fall-guy. He had to be. They had no choice in the matter.

Right then and there, she could've told him how much she disliked him getting hurt too, how every time he threw herself in front her was yet another reminder of the colossal weight on her shoulders. The pressure to fix things, to make things right. In the heat of the battle, it was something she'd had to train herself to forget. But sometimes, in the quiet moments alone in her room, they haunted her- the shadows of Chat Noir's numerous sacrifices. Tikki could only do so much to ease her troubled mind, the Kwami couldn't stop the nightmares.

How had she not realised she loved him sooner?

Ladybug stole a glance towards Chat's darkened expression, biting her lip. It was true, she could open her mouth and let forth all of the things which worried her, all of her deepest feelings towards him. But it felt wrong to do so. Right now he needed her, not the other way around.

Her insecurities could wait a little while longer, if it meant making him feel better. And she was positive he would soothe any of her worries in the future, if history was anything to go by.

Is this what a relationship is like? She thought, suddenly giddy with the idea, her heart leaping as she took his hand once more. A smile stretched across her face as she contemplated the idea. A relationship. A real relationship. Ones which she heard people mention but had yet to experience herself; with communication and giving-and-taking, with talking things through and being there for each other. Was this what it was like? Was this the reality? With Chat of all people?

If it was, she found she quite liked it. The fact that it was with Chat, one of her best friends, made it even better.

"My lady?" Chat's face was a vision of confusion, and her smile widened. She stepped forward, squeezing his hand lightly, leaning her chest towards him.

"Tis just a scratch… my lord," she flirted, and then paused, waiting for his reaction.

It was near instantaneous- Chat's face erupted into a furious blush, all traces of sadness forgotten, and she silently cheered, leading him to the edge of the rooftop. It was late now, and they were high enough to ensure privacy. The Eiffel tower gleamed close beside them and her chest grew warm despite the coolness of the night air. Their first kiss had happened there, only last night, and now here she was thinking about the two of them together- of having an actual relationship. Visions of Chat's future dreams filled her head, of the house with the sewing room. It felt more real now than ever, as real as his hand currently entwined with her own.

"You know Kitty," she said, sitting down cross-legged and tugging him down with her. The pair sat face to face and she smiled at his fumbling hands, "it's really funny."

"W-what is?" He asked, staring at his lap. She shook her head, completely smitten by his bashfulness.

"How you can dish out the flirting, but you can't take it," she goaded.

He snapped his head up then, a defiant smirk on his face as he leaned in close to her.

"I am more than able to handle your flirting, my lady," he retorted and she arched her eyebrow at him, giving his nose a gentle jab for good measure.

"Oh really? Your blush says otherwise," she giggled, relieved to see the intended effect of her little distraction techniques. The atmosphere was lighter, Chat's whole body seemed to lift in response to her teasing. He curled further into her space, and she leaned back slightly, shifting her legs and suddenly very aware that they were nearly horizontal.

She didn't mind, though.

"Am I not allowed to blush when a beautiful lady flirts with me?" He argued, his tone low again, but for an entirely different reason. A shiver passed through her, warm and soothing, yet somehow setting her insides ablaze.

"Only this lady," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. They grew closer- heated breath mingling. Chat's nose brushed against her own, and she realised he was still shy. Hell, she was too. She couldn't help but wonder if it was right, if it was ok, if he liked what she was doing. It was absurd, but still so very new.

"Oh? Is my Love-bug getting possessive of her cat?" he replied and she scoffed, hating how much she liked the nickname. God he's so corny. I love it. He can never know.

"Not possessive," she replied seriously, and suddenly panicked, realising that explaining what she meant would back her into a highly embarrassing corner. She swallowed, looking everywhere except at him (making sure that the cut on her cheek was absent from his gaze, lest he slip back into self-blame), "I- I just mean, well you know- I would think you'd like just me flirting with you, but you know I totally get it that we're not THERE yet, I mean we just k-kissed yesterday and I don't own you so like yeah I didn't mean to sound like a jealous girl or- "

A gloved hand cupped her chin, halting the shovel she was using to dig her own grave, and Ladybug fell silent.

"Look at me," he whispered and she complied, seeing his warm smile and a glint of something in his eyes which caused her suspicions to rise dramatically, "now close your eyes."

Again, she did so unquestioningly, thinking he was going to kiss her.

He did not.

Imagine her surprise when, instead, he continued to hold her face. Imagine her shock when he released his transformation, and the black gloves turned into skin, calloused fingertips softly caressing her. She gasped.

"What are you-" she began, shaking as he placed a finger against her lips.

"I wanted to say this out of the mask," he replied, and she felt his forehead rest against hers, "is that stupid?"

She shook her head, eyes still firmly shut. There was something so extraordinary about the sensation of knowing her Chat Noir was now crouched in front of her, without his mask, as she had been with him earlier in the day. The notion was bigger than she could have ever comprehended previously- when the ideas of them together were freshly formed in her mind. Threads of a fresh kind of trust sewed themselves between the pair. Ladybug felt them, like flowing ribbons or strings of fate. It was a new level to their bond, a deeper, more intimate one.

For three years, they'd had each other's backs. But this? This was an entirely different type of trust. In a way, it was scarier, more frightening than having faith in someone covering you in the line of fire. But it was also better. It was floating in a peaceful ocean, wrapping up in a warm blanket, huddling around a campfire.

It was home. He was home. They were home.

"Ah, good. That's- that's good," the boy behind Chat Noir's mask stammered, his fingers slipping into her hair. Adrien steeled himself, ready to ask the question he'd practiced for an hour in front of the mirror until Plagg had screamed at him to shut up. It was difficult, for he was so taken by her, her literal blind trust in him- how beautiful she was with her lips parted and her eyes delicately closed. His dream girl, "I just wanted you to know. You're the only girl for me, Ladybug. And when I know who you are behind that mask, when we know each other, I just wanted to ask…can I- can I have you? When I find you, can I really have you, like you have me? Can we, you know, go on dates? Can we kiss without masks? Is it possible?"

For some strange reason, Ladybug wanted to cry. Blindly, she fumbled for the sides of his face; overcome with such emotion, such need for him, that she needed an outlet- and words could not possibly suffice.

"Well," she breathed, "I certainly think we can. But we can test that theory now, to be totally sure. Close your eyes too."

Adrien complied and there was a brief silence before he realised she couldn't see to know he had. He would have found it funny, if the situation wasn't so serious.

"They're closed."

That was all she needed to hear. As soon as she'd de-transformed, her lips crashed against his own.

A part of her felt, as her lips danced against his, that this was cheating somehow. The fact they were kissing as their civilian selves, without knowing their identities yet. It was a tiny part, however, and it was quickly squashed when the full weight of their kiss came down upon her.

It was like kissing him for the first time all over again. In a way, it was. With their eyes remaining firmly closed, the sensations were all touch, all scent, all sound, all heightened. Marinette had long since stretched her legs out, over the edge of the skyscraper, Adrien too- shifting to a similar, more comfortable position. Hands grasped real, non-superhero clothes, such an odd thing to focus on, to revel in. But revel Marinette did. He was wearing a hoodie, and jeans. Chat Noir wore hoodies and jeans, the boy behind Chat's mask wore hoodies and jeans.

Adrien, meanwhile, was completely overwhelmed. He wondered if he'd ever get over the giddiness of kissing her. Kissing her, Adrien was kissing the girl behind the mask. The girl he vowed he'd love no matter what, the girl he'd continue to love even after the inevitable day when they gave up their superhero identities- whenever that day arrived. He was kissing her, and oh how he loved it. He loved the softness of her lips, the small noises of pleasure their embrace brought from her, he loved that he could hold her, touch her, learn her. But then she was doing things too, her hand brushing against his hip, fingernails scratching gently against his side.

Don't groan, don't groan, don't groan- you'll make it weird, he thought, settling for humming instead.

And then there was the fact that they were now gloveless, their fingers able to skim freely across exposed skin, the added layer of sensation was electrifying, dazzling. Adrien dared to deepen the kiss, swooping down to wrap his arms around her lower back, revelling in the gasp he earned when he lifted her t-shirt, feeling the goose-bumps against her spine.

He stopped.

"You're cold, you're shivering," he stated, breaking their kiss and sitting upright.

"I'm ok," he heard her reply, her voice small and breathless and oh god did he love her, "Chat?"

"Hold on, Love Bug," Adrien replied, heart skipping. It was the first time anyone had addressed him as Chat Noir, sans mask.

After a brief pause, Marinette felt something heavy and warm drop into her lap. She frowned, taking in the cotton, two strings, her hand reaching into a large pocket, before realising what he'd given her. Her jaw dropped.

"Kitty no, you're going to be freezing!" She admonished.

"Rather you than me," he replied, shuffling back towards her, now clad only in his t-shirt "and you can keep it."

"But-"

"It's not one I wear at school," he hastened to add, amusement creeping into his voice "so you can't cheat by identifying me with it."

"I wouldn't cheat," she grumbled, causing him to laugh. Marinette caved, throwing the hoodie on. The thick fabric hugged her, baggy and comforting. It smelled like fancy soap and something else, something familiar- yet she couldn't quite place it. Whatever it was made her stomach twist into little knots, "there, it's on, are you happy? Now you're going to become a pawpscicle and it's all your fault."

"I love it when you talk punny to me," she felt him grinning against her temple as he pressed a gentle kiss to it.

"I love it when you stop talking," she shot back, tilting her head up to find his lips once again. It was much less clumsy than the night before, and maybe (she thought) it was because they didn't have masks in the way. Maybe it was because- when all was said and done- this is how they should be kissing. No barriers, no secret identities, nothing hidden between them.

It would have been too easy to open her eyes, to find out who he really was. But he was supposed to find her, not the other way around. That, and it would break the trust he held in her. She couldn't do it. No matter how tempting.

Besides, as much as it was causing a storm of emotions in her- it was fun, it was thrilling- this little chase they'd set up. She wouldn't have it any other way.

"UGH! This is sickening."

"Plagg!" Adrien growled, breaking the kiss, "I'm going to murder you."

Marinette laughed, leaning forward to bury her face in his chest, briefly startled by the t-shirt fabric she felt as opposed to the light leather. Her shoulders shook- she'd never heard Chat sound so offended.

"Yeah, yeah, well I'm cold ok?" Plagg moaned, and Adrien felt the weight of the Kwami as he settled onto Adrien's head.

"So go cuddle Tikki," Adrien spat.

"We were cuddling!" The pink Kwami piped up cheerfully, from somewhere beside Marinette's ear, "it's been a long time since we've seen each other!"

"TIKKI!" Plagg cried, mortified, whilst Adrien cackled- knowing he finally had something on Plagg. He'd never let him live it down.

"Anyway, I'm really sorry to interrupt, and I'm sorry Plagg got there first- he's less tactful," Tikki said, ignoring Plagg's splutter of indigence, as well as Adrien's jeer, "but it's getting late and I don't like you two being up and out in this cold night air- you'll catch a cold."

After a few sighs of discontent, the pair transformed again, opening their eyes.

Ladybug smiled, looking away shyly, and Chat thought it might be the most adorable thing he'd ever seen. Both of them shared similar thoughts, on how things seemed the same- yet completely different. Better. Greater. Closer.

"Well, the Kwami's have spoken!" Chat chirped, playfully shrugging his shoulders, "alas we are to be parted!"

Ladybug slid into his personal space, with an eyebrow raise and a twinkle in her blue eyes that one could only describe as devious.

"They didn't say anything forbidding a good night kiss," she argued slyly.

"Oooh, my lady is a rebel! I lo- like it. I umm, like it-" he replied, stammering, and covering his flub by catching her in a sweet goodnight kiss. It was brief, but tender and filled with promise. This time, Ladybug was the first to break it, brushing her nose against his in an eskimo kiss.

"Goodnight Chat Noir, and thank you for the hoodie," she said, stepping away from him and pulling out her yoyo much more slowly than usual.

"You're welcome," he smiled back, bowing low, "goodnight, Ladybug."

She offered a casual wave, cringing at how dorky she was behaving, and made her way to the other side of the building, facing the direction of her home.

Just as she was about to throw her yoyo, a hand gripped her wrist. Startled, she turned around to see that Chat had dashed after her, and before she could say anything, he pulled her towards him gently. Her feet left the floor as he lifted her, kissing her, twirling around on the spot, and she squealed, laughing against his lips.

After two spins he set her down, beaming.

"Ok, now goodnight!" he said, moving away from her, but she shook her head.

"Nuh-uh," she smirked, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him down for another kiss, and another, and another. When she stopped, he looked practically drunk, swaying from side to side, "NOW goodnight!"

The dazed guffaw that escaped Chat's lips had her silently convulsing- silent only because she didn't want to burst out into shrieking levels of laughter and ruin the moment. Oh she HAD to find a way to make that look appear on his face more often. It was gold.

"Do we have to?" he said, his voice faint and completely besotted.

"Oh my god!" Ladybug cried, twisting him around and pushing against his back until he began walking, unable to hold back the laughter as she did so, "just goooo! If you keep being so cute, I'm going to want to kiss you all night, and Tikki will never stop lecturing me about it. Besides we have school in the morning!"

"Ok, ok, ok! But I'm keeping a mental note of the fact that being cute means you want to spend more time kissing me!" he surrendered, looking over his shoulder at her and wiggling his eyebrows. They came to a stop at the opposite side of the building, and Chat stilled, his expression serious, "I'll see you tomorrow, Love bug," it wasn't a confession, but he hoped the emphasis on the word love would reach her heart somehow.

Ladybug felt all the breath rush out of her in one fell swoop.

"Yeah," she gulped, nodding, a spark of hope dancing in her eyes so that Chat had to press his lips to her forehead fondly. He pulled away, winking, before turning and springing from the building.

As she watched him do a spectacular triple spin mid-air, Ladybug couldn't help but think he'd done it to show off.

She couldn't roll her eyes though. He'd earned it.

---

The next afternoon found Marinette in the senior common room, cheek completely healed- no trace of the injury to be found. Supposedly, she was using her free double-period to share art ideas with Nath. It had been a long morning, no lessons with any of her four closest friends to goof off with. The day always seemed to go by more slowly when Alya wasn't around causing mischief and (weirdly organised) chaos in her wake. However, Marinette was deep in procrastination mode, and staring even deeper into the depths of her bag.

"Are you Mary Poppins or something?" Nathanael asked, after the third time looking up from their table to see Marinette staring into the aforementioned bag.

Marinette jolted, sitting upright with a start.

"Ah n-no what do you mean?" she stuttered incriminatingly.

"Well, it's just you seem weirdly fascinated by your bag, and your phone is on the table, so I thought maybe your bag was magic- like Mary Poppins," Nath said innocently, grinning at her from across the table, in a surprisingly good mood considering he still hadn't heard if he'd been accepted to his university of choice.

"That's a brilliant deduction, Sherlock," Marinette replied, hoping her dry tone would cover the fear in her voice. She kicked her bag under the table and the pair settled back into a comfortable silence. The small, cluttered room was quiet. There was low hum from the ancient microwave someone had donated, the smell of soup filling the air (why anyone would want soup on such a hot day was beyond Marinette's reasoning). The room was taken up, mostly, by a mix between circular and square tables. A few computer desks were shoved into the sides- the one they'd crowded around the other day to research was currently being used by a science student. Opposite her and Nath were a group of music kids, heads in hands, a cloud of despair circulating from their table, probably due to the test they had the next day- if Nino's whinging had been anything to go by.

It was peaceful, cool despite the hot weather outside, yet Marinette couldn't concentrate if her life depended on it. Her mind seemed to focus on anything but her work.

I should have left his stupid hoodie at home, she thought, cursing herself and her poor decisions. Her leg jostled against her bag subconsciously, Chat Noir's hoodie buried deep in its depths.

It was nothing remarkable, yet at the same time it was. Plain red, her colour, with a little stain on the sleeve which looked like it could be coffee. Marinette opened her sketch book, doodling idly, thinking about Chat Noir- cuddled up in the hoodie, browsing the internet, huddled up in bed on cold nights with it. For what seemed like hours after their patrol, she had clung to the innocent lump of fabric, had refused to take it off until the heat in her room became too much. It was proof that things between them weren't a dream.

The temptation to wear it was far too great. She really should have left it at home. The red would stand out like a sore thumb, a beacon calling Chat Noir to her. Marinette pressed a little harder than necessary with her pencil, giving up on doing any real work for now (she'd actually done quite a bit before bed the night before so it wasn't as though she was falling behind). Instead she drew a familiar mop of messy blonde hair, a pair of cat ears, a cheeky grin.

She sighed, sketching a few rough love hearts around her Chat Noir drawing, pretty sure she was going to dispose of the doodle as soon as she'd finished it. If Chat saw it- she'd never live it down.

"Hey Marinette!"

She screeched, almost falling out of her seat, and twisted around to see Adrien standing behind her. Nath watched the scene with a raised eyebrow of amusement, catching Marinette's warning scowl.

Suddenly she remembered what she'd been drawing, remembered their conversation yesterday- Adrien's question about her being a fangirl. Her brain did some quick mathematical calculations of doom:

Doodle of Chat with love hearts + Adrien seeing doodle= THE END OF DAYS, OH MY GOD COVER IT- COVER IT NOW.

She jumped backwards, sitting on the table, stretching her arms wide in a fake yawn. The series of actions might have looked casual, were it not for the fact that Marinette did them at the speed of a cheetah on red bull. Adrien blinked at her. From behind her, she could hear Nath snorting. Traitor.

"Er, h-hi Adrien! What brings you here?" her voice was a bit too shaky to pass for nonchalant, but Adrien didn't seem to notice. His eyes were glazed over and, for a second of unrelenting panic- Marinette thought he'd seen the doodle- her crime.

His eyes adjusted back into the present and he beamed at her. She looked down, not wanting to feel any guilt for her stomach flipping.

"I just sent an assignment to the printer. Need to grab it before last class- my printer at home stopped working last night," he explained, something oddly tender in the way he spoke to her. She still refused to meet his eyes.

"Oh. Yeah, printers are like that aren't they? So unreliable!" she huffed nervously, wiggling in her seat.

"Wait," Nathanael piped up from behind her, "what's the time? Oh shi- I didn't realise it was almost last class!" After throwing all of his possessions back into his bag, Nathanael began to run out of the room but stopped abruptly, dashing back to offer Marinette a half-hug, "thanks for the cookies Mari- you're a hero."

"Of course, anything to stop you being such a nervous tomato!" she chuckled, ruffling his hair fondly, and- after a quick goodbye to Adrien, Nathanael dashed off.

The common room became a lot busier as students came and went, and Adrien coughed awkwardly, making his way over to the printer to collect his assignment. As soon as his back was turned, Marinette snatched her sketchbook up and turned it to the next blank page- burying her nose close to the paper and furiously sketching a quick dress design.

After a minute or so, she felt Adrien's presence, and lifted her head up when he coughed awkwardly.

"Well I guess I better get going! I don't want to be late either," he said and, when she smiled softly at him, he was the one to turn away, cheeks pink.

"I hope your assignment gets a good grade!" Marinette replied, "not that it wouldn't or anything, 'cause you're, you know, smart, have you ever gotten a bad grade in your life?"

"I don't think my father would allow it," Adrien said, only half joking.

Silence hung in the air between them, only for the length of a heartbeat, but it was noticeable enough for both of them to feel awkward.

"Well- see you!" Adrien waved, closing the door to the common room behind with a bit more force than necessary.

"Yeah, see you…" Marinette whispered at the closed door, before slumping backwards in relief. That had been close. Too close. She really needed to stop drawing such silly things at school, what if someone caught her? Gossip in their school was insidious, and she didn't want any rumours flying around that she was dating or in love with Chat Noir (no matter how true that may or may not be).

Taking in a deep breath, Marinette settled down onto her seat again. Now that she was alone, she felt a greater sense of calm than she had before. Settling down to her work, she felt safe in the knowledge that her secret love had remained that- a secret.

On the other side of the door however, things were a much different story.

Adrien leaned against the door frame, clutching his chest with trembling fingers. He was trying to breathe but everything in his body seemed to rush. His blood, the air in his lungs, his nerves, every fibre of his being was alive and dying at the same time. He stole a glance at the closed door, not caring that his odd behaviour could be attracting looks from his peers.

Marinette had drawn him.

But she hadn't just drawn him, she'd draw him as Chat Noir. She'd drawn him with love hearts. Love hearts!

But she'd told him yesterday that she wasn't a fangirl, that she admired him because-

Because-

Because they'd worked together that one time. The one time Ladybug hadn't been there, had been on a 'top secret mission' instead. Because-

Because it was her.

Because she was Ladybug.

She was! She had to be!

Marinette was Ladybug.

"Oh my god, oh my god," he wobbled, stepping forwards, the good subconscious student in him taking control of his legs, forcing him to go to class. He couldn't talk to her now. As much as he wanted to burst straight back into the common room and pull her into his arms, as much as he wanted to yell and run and shout. As much as he wanted to kiss her and declare he'd found her, after three long years, he'd found her at last- he was very much aware of causing a scene.

No. He would suffer through the next class. He would run outside as soon as the bell rang, would catch up with her. He'd take her aside and explain how he needed to speak to her privately. They could run off together, he could transform and sweep her off her feet, carry her to the scene of their first kiss. There would be tears of joy, laughter, hugging and (he hoped) more kisses.

Class was torture, as to be expected, his leg endlessly bobbing up and down, his pencil twitching in his fingers. He was told off for daydreaming more than once but he didn't care, this was so much bigger than any maths lesson ever could be. Elation, awe, and wonder filled him. He'd found her! He'd found Ladybug!

After the bell rang Adrien bolted for the door, bumping into Nino in the corridor as he emerged from his music lesson.

"Woah, dude, easy! You almost took me out!" he cried, readjusting his cap.

"Sorry, sorry, have you seen Marinette? I need to talk to her- it's important!" Adrien replied, breathless, giddy, his cheeks red and his head spinning. Nino blinked.

"Err, pretty sure she's heading home," he replied, stumbling back as Adrien hurried past him. Nino huffed at his friend's retreating back, "nice to see you Nino, hope you had a good day Nino…" he grumbled to himself.

Adrien didn't hear, he was sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him, never before had he felt such lightness, such freedom, not even as Chat Noir. All this time, all this time they'd been there for each other, under each other's noses. The whole time he'd been blind, been foolish.

But that ended today. This was the first day of the rest of their lives! As he raced toward the front steps he felt on top of the world. Nothing could stop him. Nothing!

Hold on my lady I'll be there soon!

---

Marinette yawned, stretching out and lazily stuffing her sketchbook into her bag, stopping only to lightly graze her hand against Chat's hoodie, which Tikki was currently bundled up, asleep in. A warm smile played at her lips.

Maybe tomorrow she'd have the courage to wear it.

She made her way out of the doors, her eyes briefly blinded by the dazzling light of the sun, the sudden rush of heat which greeted her. Taking a deep breath, she pottered down the steps, eager to get home and spend a lazy afternoon lounging in her room. It was too hot to do much else, and she had a lot of emotions she still needed to sort through.

However, as usual, fate had other ideas for her.

"MARINETTE!"

Someone was yelling her name, desperately, dramatically, and for a second she tensed- worried there was something wrong.

Before she could fully turn around, she was enveloped in a bear hug, scooped up off the floor and span around until she was dizzy. For a brief, absurd moment, she thought it was Chat Noir- after all he'd done something similar the night before. Whoever lifted her was laughing, joy pouring from their soul and she couldn't help but smile despite her confusion.

When she was set down she looked up to see a pair of shimmering green eyes, almost on the verge of tears, and her breath caught.

"Nathanael," she gasped, her heart leaping when she realised there was only one thing that would cause him to laugh like that, "you didn't-"

"I did!" he cried, shaking "I got in! The foundation year- I'm going to London!"

"Oh my god!"

"oh MY god!"

She threw her arms around him in a bear hug, burying into his shoulder as she squealed in delight.

"Nath I'm so proud of you!"

"I couldn't have done it without you," he replied, pulling away and grabbing her hands, his own were trembling.

Marinette blushed, pulling one hand away to scratch her shoulder sheepishly.

"No, that's not true, you did it all by yourself."

Nathanael wouldn't hear any of it. Gripping her free hand, he began to pull he down the street.

"Who encouraged me to apply? Who stayed up late and helped me check all my portfolios were organised correctly? Come on!" he laughed, tossing his head back to the sky. His triumph was infectious, Marinette had never seen him so happy.

"Where are we going?" she asked, giggling.

"I'm taking you for a coffee, it's the least I can do to say thank you for all your help," he breathed, practically dancing down the street. Marinette chortled, allowing her friend to steer her toward the nearest coffee shop…

Neither of them noticed Adrien Agreste, watching them go from the top of the steps; his once light limbs heavy, his insides turned to ice, his heart dropping like a stone in the sea.