epiclilkitty-blog

[epiclilkitty-blog]

Oh, Shit. You’re A Guy

“Move over, Chat,” Marinette Dupain-Cheng said, shoving at the leather-clad boy who was currently hogging her bed. It was Saturday night and, as had become their ritual in the last few months, Chat Noir had dropped in to visit the pigtailed girl. It started after the tomcat had ‘rescued’ her from an Akuma attack. The Akuma in question hadn’t been mad at Marinette perse… it was more of a wrong place, wrong time sort of thing. Anyway, right before she’d been turned into a mindless zombie, Chat had dropped from the sky (literally) twirling his baton in one hand to deflect any attacks thrown their way while the other arm had swept around her waist. Pulling her close, he had whisked her away with that baton of hers and deposited her safely upon the rooftop of the Dupain-Cheng Bakery. She had assumed that was the end of it. He had gone off to continue fighting, she had transformed into Ladybug and joined the fray, and when all was said and done and the Akuma had been purified, they had gone their separate ways. Chat had gone off to wherever he lived when he wasn’t Chat Noir and Ladybug had returned to her rooftop terrace and de-transformed.

That should have been the end of it, realistically speaking. After all, Chat Noir saved numerous civilians on a daily basis. As far as she was aware, he didn’t visit them afterward so why should she expect him to visit her. And yet, he had. The night he had rescued her from the Akuma, as she had lingered on her balcony enjoying the warmth of a summer’s breeze and the scent of baked goods rising from the bakery below, Chat had come to her. He had been all confidence and suave one-liners but beneath the playful facade, Marinette had seen genuine worry in his eyes. She wasn’t sure why, and she wasn’t sure how, but Chat did care for her. Not just as Ladybug, but as ordinary Marinette. In all honesty, when Chat had first begun to visit her, she had believed he had somehow discovered her secret identity but no… there were no ulterior motives here. In the beginning, he mostly dropped by after his patrols. During those times, he had always been upbeat and charming. A few weeks into their almost nightly visits, Chat dropped in and by this time she was eager to invite him into her room. He had been a constant in her life and she enjoyed his company.

Chat wasn’t his normal, happy self however and spent most of their time together brooding on her chaise as she tried to coax him to talk. Eventually, she gathered that he had had a fight with his father and had simply wanted to be around someone who didn’t place a million expectations on his shoulders. It was sweet, in a way, that he had thought of her but mostly, her heart had ached for him. Chat had looked so sad and lost. After that, Marinette had insisted he come by whenever he was feeling even the slightest bit down, and for the most part, he took her up on her offer. Most nights, Chat just lounged around the room watching her work on some project or another, or occasionally helping with her homework. Other times they would build pillow forts and have Disney of Ghibli Movie Marathons. Then there were times like these when the pair wanted nothing more than to laze around the room and take a nap.

Chat Noir had arrived almost two hours ago and almost immediately took over her bed while Marinette had struggled to finish a school project that was due in the morning. In all honesty, she had wanted nothing more than to join him. They had battled a particularly difficult Akuma earlier in the day and she was bone tired. If she didn’t finish her portion of the project, however, her best friend Alya would have her head on a platter and personally, Mari thought Alya was far scarier than any Akuma she had ever faced up against. Now, the project finished, the girl climbed up into the loft fully intending to faceplant into her pillow… only to find Paris’ beloved Superhero stretched diagonally from one corner of the bed to the next.

“Move over, Chat,” she said, giving his shoulder a shove. The boy grumbled, brow furrowing in protest, but didn’t open his eyes. He also didn’t move and with an annoyed huff, she gave him another, harder shove. “Come on, Chat. I want to lay down too,” she whined plaintively, and after a moment one green eye cracked open to blink groggily up at her. With a soft grumble, he straightened out but instead of moving to the far end of the bed, he wound up laying somewhat in the middle of the bed. He was slightly off center, so there was much more room near the wall, and with a sigh, Marinette moved to climb over the superhero. What she didn’t account for, however, was the fact that a sleepy Chat was also, apparently, a very cuddly Chat and she was halfway over him when his arms snaked around her waist. Marinette gave a muffled squeak as she was suddenly pulled down on top of a hard leather chest and in one deft movement, Chat rolled them over until he was laying half on top of her.

Although heavier than her, without his full weight resting on top of her the position was actually rather comfortable. Chat was almost like a weighted blanket, and with a contented sigh, she turned into him, burying her face into the smooth leather that covered his chest. The pair lay like that, bodies pressed flush up against one another, legs tangled, for quite some time. Chat had almost succeeded in falling back asleep when beneath him, the raven-haired girl stirred. Marinette tipped her head up to look at Chat, her nose grazing his chin as she did so.

“Chat?” She asked quietly. There was no answer, so she tried again, this time raising her voice a little. “Hey, Chat?”

“No.” The boy grumbled, burying his face in the crook of her neck in protest. Marinette attempted to shift back so that she could once again see his face but gave up when his arms tightened around her, holding her in place.

“Chat, I want to ask you something,” she insisted stubbornly. More grumbling came from the boy, the sounds vibrating against the skin of her neck.

“No, Princess. Go to sleep,” Chat mumbled, resolutely refusing to open his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, if he kept them closed Marinette would give up and allow him to sleep. Unfortunately, he wasn’t exactly known for his luckiness. That was kind of Ladybug’s things.

“Please, Kitty? I promise I’ll let you sleep afterward,” the girl pleaded and with a growl, Chat’s eyes popped open to give her his most disgruntled look.

“Fine, but you owe me Chocolate for keeping me from sleep,” he warned, his expression softening softly at her quiet giggles.

“All the chocolate you could want, Chaton,” she promised with a grin.

“Alright, Princess, what do you want to know?” He asked, satisfied.

“Well um… you’re a boy right?” She began awkwardly. Chat Noir released her and sat up abruptly, giving her an incredulous look.

“Was there ever any doubt!?” He squeaked, thoroughly shocked. Marinette blinked and slowly sat up as well, a warm blush crossing her cheeks.

“No, no… I didn’t mean it like that. I know you a guy but… I don’t know. I’ve never thought of you as a “guy” guy before,” she said with a shrug. When Chat gave her a blank look, she hurried to explain herself. “It’s just that we’re such good friends. Like I know you’re a guy but I’ve never really thought of you as one. Like my friend Nino. But that wasn’t my question.”

“Dare I ask what your question is, Princess?” Chat asked ruefully.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” She suddenly blurted out, the heat in her cheeks creeping up towards her hairline. Chat stared, startled, before shifting awkwardly.

“Um… is there a particular reason you asked, Princess?” He asked, glad the mask on his face helped to hide his own rising blush. Marinette dropped her gaze to the comforter, fidgeting with her fingers awkwardly before chancing a peek up at the leather-clad hero.

“Well, it’s just… there’s this guy I really like. I’ve liked him for a long time but I don’t think he even notices I exist and I was just wondering if it was because I’m not pretty,” she explained shyly. Chat Noir stiffened, startled by the sudden flash of rage that encompassed him at the thought of another holding his Princess’ affections. It was silly. He was in love with Ladybug, not Marinette. Marinette was a friend. A really good friend but a friend nonetheless. There was no reason he should be feeling so homicidal towards a boy he probably didn’t even know. “Ch-Chat? Are you okay?” Marinette’s voice drew him out of his semi-murderous thoughts and he flashed her a grin.

“You’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever met, Princess. If this boy doesn’t notice you, he must be an idiot,” he promised confidentiality. For a long moment, Marinette was silent. Chat was content to sit there in silence, waiting for her to gather her thoughts. Sleep was no longer at the forefront of his mind.

“You know, I take it back. Your opinion just doesn’t really do it for me,” the girl suddenly said, flopping back so that she lay on the bed one more. She stared up at the ceiling forlornly until Chat leaned over her, irritable green eyes filling her vision.

“What’s wrong with my opinion?” He whined, clearly offended. She shot him an apologetic look. It hadn’t been her intention to hurt his feelings, after all.

“I don’t know, Chat. You’re like my best friend and I guess talking to you is just like talking to my best friend, Alya. I just don’t see you as a guy,” she explained with an apologetic shrug. Chat was glaring at her now.

“Marinette, I am a boy. You do realize that, right?” He asked, voice tight with some unidentifiable emotion.

“Well yes, of course, I do Kitty,” she confirmed, nodding sagely. “But it’s still different.”

“ How is it different, Marinette!?”

“I don’t know… you’re my Kitty. I adore you but I guess I’ve never thought of you in a romantic sense. I honestly see you as more of a girlfriend, Chat. I mean you literally, not two days ago, were gushing about a sparkly pink Princess dress I made for Manon,” she pointed out on a giggle, sitting up so that she faced him once more. Chat scowled at the memory.

“It. was. Adorable. How does that make me less of a boy?”

“Chat it was pink and sparkly and you were carrying on like I’d made it especially for you . I mean, if I didn’t know any better I’d almost think you were- mmfgh!! ” Marinette’s eyes widened in shock as her words were silenced by the press of Chat Noir’s mouth on hers. She wasn’t sure how to react or respond and her hands fluttered helplessly as his lips moved gently over hers. When he pulled away, he smirked looking rather pleased with himself.

“Wh-what was that?” Marinette whispered, staring at the cat-themed superhero in shock. Chat’s smirk widened into a grin.

“I kissed you,” he responded as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Marinette’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

“I know that. My question is why !?!” She demanded, hating how her voice seemed to leap up an octave or two on the last word. Chat shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, partially it was to shut you up. I mean seriously Princess, you only seem to have one setting and that’s ‘babble’. And also it was because you were about to say you thought I was gay and I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. Prove I wasn’t gay and stop your babbling,” he explained with a shrug. Marinette’s mouth opened and closed as she floundered for something to say.

“You… Y-you… You IDIOT . I said ‘if I didn’t know better’. The point being that I know you’re not gay. And who the hell gives you the right to just go around kissing people like that!?” She accused, cheeks flaming red. Chat leaned closer with a mischievous smile.

“Aw come on, Princess. Admit it. You liked my kiss,” he said with a lascivious wink. Marinette swallowed hard and turned her face away, because the truth of the matter is, she did like his kiss. More than she was willing to admit.

“That’s beside the point, I- SHIT no, that’s not what I meant!” Marinette cursed, raking her hand roughly through her hair. “Wipe that smug grin off your face, Chat. I didn’t mean it like that,” she scoffed, scooting backward to put some distance between them. Chat was having none of that though and without warning, he lunged. Marinette shrieked as the superhero grabbed her by the hips and yanked her closer to him. The momentum caused her to fall backward so that she once again found herself on her back, staring up as Chat as he rolled on top of her, effectively pinning her beneath his weight. Marinette wiggled in protest, cheeks flaming, and glared up at her friend.

“Chat this isn’t funny! When I get out of this, I swear I am going to skin you alive. I’m going to- mmmfgh!! ” Once again her words were muffled by Chat’s mouth on hers. This kiss was briefer and when he lifted his head, he had the audacity to wink at her. Marinette launched into her tirade as if she had never stopped. “You are a very, very bad kitty. I mean really, everyone knows you love Ladybug so there’s no reason you should be sitting her ki-” Her words were drowned out by another kiss. Where the others had been soft and gentle, this kiss was firmer. His lips moved over hers determinedly, coaxing her mouth to move with his and with a soft moan, Marinette found herself giving into the kiss.

As the fight left her, Chat ran his tongue along her bottom lip prompting her to allow him entrance to her mouth, which she was only too eager to go. Immediately the kiss deepened, tongues tangling and hands exploring. Chat kept on hand firmly on Marinette’s hip while the other inched its way up with a single-minded determination towards the hem of her shirt. When he reached his goal, he paused and an unspoken question flashed between them. Marinette whimpered her acquiescence, allowing Chat to continue his upward journey. The pads of his leather gloves inched their way up her abdomen, stroking and caressing the skin and eliciting a needy sigh from the girl. Meanwhile, Marinette’s hands remained firmly in the boy’s hair. She had to admit, she had always kind of wondered what his hair would feel like. It always looked so spiky but she was pleased to find the strands soft as silk.

Chat’s mouth left hers, allowing the girl to breathe as he trailed kisses along her jaw and down the smooth column of her neck and throat. At the apex of her neck and shoulder, Chat nipped her sharply and with an involuntary cry, Marinette arched against him. Chat moved back up until he hovered above her once more. A wide, arrogant smile curved his lips as he stared down at the girl and carefully extracted his hand from her shirt. “Well now, I think that ought to be enough to prove that I am very much a boy, purrincess,” Chat teased, before rising to his feet in one fluid movement. Before Marinette could even process what was happening, the leather-clad boy leaped up the ladder to the hatch in her ceiling, pausing to give her an exaggerated wink before slipping out into the night and disappearing. Marinette stared at the spot he had disappeared, mouth hanging open in shock. Her whole body tingled from his kiss, his touch… now she knew what it meant to be left high and dry. Although she did have to admit… Chat was right about one thing. She was very much aware now that he was, in fact, a boy. And a delicious one at that.

[epiclilkitty-blog]

Ladybug’s Romeo

"O Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?" Ladybug sighed dreamily as she leaned against the railing of the roof upon which she was currently standing. It was mid-evening and the sun was sinking behind the horizon, turning the sky a fiery orange with hot pink and lavender hues. But it wasn't the beauty of the sky that held her attention. That paled in comparison to what she was currently staring at. No, what held the spotted heroine's attention was the giant billboard across from the building she stood on. On the billboard, Adrien Agreste was posing against a red brick wall. He wore low slung, hip-hugging jeans that almost seemed painted on, a form-fitting white shirt that clung to his muscles, and a black leather jacket that did nothing to hide the muscles underneath. He had one leg bent at the knee, the foot pressed against the wall behind him, and his head was bowed forward so that his perfect blonde hair fell slightly over his eyes as he grinned up at the camera. She just about swooned then and there. In fact, she was so enthralled by the sight of her crush towering over the Parisian rooftops, she failed to notice the soft thud of feet landing on the roof behind her as she continued her speech.

"Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet." She breathed the words out on an exalted sigh. When Ladybug had left her house an hour ago, it had mostly been to clear her head. They were currently studying Shakespeare in her 12th Grade English Literature Class and coincidentally she was to recite this particular scene with Adrien Agreste tomorrow. She wanted it to be perfect but she had never been the greatest at Shakespeare. That, coupled with the fact that she was a blubbering mess around Adrien, made it a daunting task.

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?” A soft voice intoned behind her. Ladybug was so caught up in the moment, however, she simply responded without thought.

“'Tis but thy name that is my enemy: thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s a Montague? It is nor hand nor foot, nor arm nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O be some other name!" She ended on a cry, before dropping her voice to a much softer tone. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name, which is no part of thee take all myself.”

Slowly, Ladybug returned to her senses as behind her, someone began to clap. The girl spun around, eyes wide with shock to find her partner, Chat Noir, grinning at her broadly. He very closely resembled the cat that ate the canary. The girl flushed a deep red, bluebell eyes widening as the leather-clad boy prowled closer to give her an appraising look. “Ch-Chat N-Noir! H-how long have you been standing there?” She squeaked, taking a step back as the blonde haired boy invaded her space.

“Long enough, My Lady. Tell me something… were you just reciting Shakespeare to a billboard?” The tomcat chuckled, eyes twinkling with obvious delight. If possible, Ladybug’s face seemed to burn hotter than before as she shook her head frantically. Damn this cat and damn his cursed timing, she thought to herself.

“N-no! No, of course, I wasn’t. I- I just happened to be speaking in that general direction,” she claimed, jerking her chin up defiantly. A bad idea, as it only brought Chat’s gaze down to her mouth. His lips quirked and he arched a brow, leaning closer.

“I don’t know, My Lady. It looked to me like you were reciting sweet nothings to a billboard of Adrien Agreste,” he purred, glancing with amusement towards the giant image of his civilian form. A strangled noise escaped the girl, drawing his focus back on her. By this point, her shin was almost as red as her suit.

“I- I wouldn’t call them sweet nothings, Chat. Romeo and Juliet is a terrible play,” she said, resolutely avoiding his green eyes. Her words were enough to derail the boy from his teasing, however, and he gave her a surprised look.

“You don’t like Shakespeare? But he’s like the world’s greatest playwright!” Ladybug gave an indifferent shrug as the blush faded from her cheeks and she turned to give him a dubious look.

“That’s arguable, but no, I have nothing against Shakespeare himself. I simply hate Romeo and Juliet,” she said by way of explanation. Chat arched a brow and made a gesture for her to continue. She sighed but did as he asked. “It’s just… the story starts out so sweet and beautiful. I mean, yeah it’s weird these twelve-year-olds are confessing their undying love for each other but I guess that’s just how it was back then. But then, he just goes and kills off the two main characters! Who even does that, Chat!?” Ladybug wailed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

“Apparently Shakespeare,” Chat said, biting back a laugh as the spandex covered girl shot him a withering look.

“You’re not nearly as funny as you seem to think you are,” she retorted dryly.

“Me-ouch, m’Ladybug’s got claws,” Chat fired back playfully before asking on a more serious note, “So if you hate Shakespeare so much, why are you sitting here reciting it to a billboard?”

“I told you, I wasn’t reciting it to the billboard. And I have to recite this scene in class tomorrow with the guy I like. It’s a little nerve-wracking,” Ladybug admitted with a shrug. Chat Noir felt something tighten within him at her words. Ladybug… Ladybug liked someone else?

“O-oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll do great! So, uh, tell me about him. This guy you like…” Chat said, moving to lean against the roof railing beside her. Ladybug hesitated, glancing at her partner.

“I don’t know Chat… we aren’t really supposed to discuss our Civilian lives,” she pointed out, shuffling her feet nervously. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t tempted. Chat was her closest friend aside from Alya and might offer a new perspective on the whole Adrien debacle. At the same time, Tikki was pretty adamant they not discuss too many details pertaining to their personal lives less they slip up.

“Does this guy know you like him?” Chat asked.

“Well, no but-”

“Then it shouldn’t matter! Besides, I’m not going to blab to anyone. This is all completely confidential,” he promised, placing one hand over his heart and raising the other. “Cat’s honor, My Lady.”

The girl studied him for a long moment, expression unreadable. Talking about her crush might help her in the long run. Chat might be able to offer insight that another girl wasn’t able to. After all, he was technically a guy too, right? “Ok well…” She hesitated, not sure where to begin.

“What do you like about him?” Chat prompted gently. The girl smiled dreamily, a fact that didn’t escape Chat Noir’s notice.

“He… he’s so kind and generous. He’s rich, but he doesn’t act like a snob. He’s the most honest, loyal, and selfless person I’ve ever met,” she explained softly.

“When did you two meet?”

“Back in Middle School. He was homeschooled up until then. His dad is a really famous fashion designer,” she said, twirling a lock of hair around one finger.

“And you’re certain he doesn’t like you back? I mean, I find it hard to imagine anyone not noticing someone as amazing as you, LB. Maybe he likes you and is just too afraid to-” He was interrupted by Ladybug’s sharp, disbelieving laugh. Turning his head, he watched as she shook her head, shoulders shaking with self-deprecating laughter.

“I’m not the same girl outside the mask, Chat. As Ladybug, I’m confident and powerful and brave. When I’m around Adrien, I can barely even talk straight.I constantly stumble over my words around him and it’s a miracle if I don’t trip over him at least once a day,” she moaned, not noticing the way Chat Noir had stiffened beside her. Green eyes wide, he stared at the girl beside him.

“My Lady, you wouldn’t happen to mean Adrien Agreste… the model would you?” He asked uncertainly. The blush on the girl’s face was answer enough and Chat felt a pulse of joy at her reaction. Ladybug liked him. Ladybug liked him. This was the greatest news ever and-

“But like I said, he doesn’t like me back,” Ladybug was saying dejectedly.

“Don’t say that!” Chat burst out, startling both himself and his partner at the conviction in his words. “Er… what I mean to say is he would be crazy not to want you. You just have to grab the cat by the tail; go for it, LB. Ask him out,” Chat said excitedly. The girl snorted and shook her head.

“Yeah, like that would ever happen.”

“Look, you said you have to do this scene with him tomorrow right? Why don’t I help you practice and after you recite it to him tomorrow, you can confess.” Chat Noir suggested animatedly. Ladybug wasn’t entirely certain what his motive for helping her was, but suddenly she, too, felt excited at the prospect and for the next two hours, the two worked together to make certain her speech was flawless. When they parted ways, Ladybug felt eons lighter than she had been when leaving the house earlier.

The next day in class, Marinette arrived to class slightly earlier than usual and took her place beside Alya. Before her best friend could so much as utter a greeting, the blonde boy in the seat before them twisted around to flash her a smile that could have rivaled the sun in its brightness. “Hey, Marinette! Are you ready for our presentation?” He asked warmly.

“I um… a-as ready as I’ll ever be,” She squeaked, relieved when she only stuttered a little bit. His grin widened.

“You sound nervous,” he noted, a look of concern sliding across his face. Marinette blushed and smiled nervously.

“M-maybe a little,” she admitted.

“Don’t be. You’ll be totally clawsome, my Lady,” he assured her with a wink. Marinette froze, ignoring Alya’s quiet squealing and Nino teasing his friend about the pun. She stared into Adrien’s unwavering green gaze and slowly, a smile stretched across her face.

“I have a feline you’re right, Minou,” she said softly.

[epiclilkitty-blog]

Dark Cupid | Alternative Ending | One-Shot

“How are you gonna fight both of us now, Bug Eyes?” Chat Noir sneered, bumping his fist against Dark Cupid’s as he smirked at Ladybug. The Akumatized Victim made a sound of agreement as Chat Noir called upon the power gifted to him by his Miraculous. “Cataclysm!” The leather-clad hero cried out, allowing the dark energy to surround his gloved hand. He looks at his fist, dark magic seeming to pool around his fingertips. Ladybug poked her head out from the tree she was currently taking refuge behind to glare at the pair.

“I’ve often wondered what would happen if I used my Cataclysm on someone,” Chat said conversationally as the spotted heroine ducked back behind the tree.

“Lucky Charm!” She cried, tossing her yo-yo into the hair to conjure up the special item that would eventually help her defeat her opponents. The spotted object fell into her hand and she blinked at it in confusion. “Huh? A Candy Apple? What am I supposed to do with this?” She wondered, starting at the object with confusion and annoyance on her face. Why did her powers have to be so confusing at times? Chat’s Cataclysm was so easy and straightforward. Touch something and destroy it. That was it. Her power, on the other hand, was an almost constant test of wit and cleverness.

“Think, Ladybug,” she said to herself, poking her head back out from behind the tree to scan the area. Immediately the fountain between the two boys lit up in her Ladybug vision. Flicking her eyes around, she noticed Chat’s fist-the one currently controlling Cataclysm-lit up, along with the strap holding Dark Cupid’s quiver to his back.

“Hey!” The girl said, delighted at having discovered the solution so quickly. Grinning at the candy apple in her hand, she immediately leaped out from her hiding spot. In one hand, she clutched the Lucky Charm; in the other, she spun her yo-yo so rapidly it acted as a shield. “I’ve got a Valentine’s Gift for you,” she called out to the pair. They smirked and immediately leaped into action. Dark Cupid took off into the air, rapidly firing arrows at the girl. Turning towards him with a scowl, Ladybug used her yo-yo to expertly deflect the attacks. She was so focused on him, she almost forgot about Chat Noir. Almost, but not quite. Her eyes flicked up as he made a sound, to find him inches away, hand outstretched. Instinctively she bent over backward as he lunged for her, eyes widening as his clawed glove passed inches from her face.

As he passed, she straightened up and grabbed his belt tail, using it to halt his progress before using his head as a springboard. Yeah, she could apologize for that one later. Launched into the air, Ladybug took aim and threw her Lucky Charm at the akumatized victim. The sticky treat immediately fixated itself upon the villains head and he growled as he reached up to tug it off. Ladybug landed upon the fountain with a triumphant grin. “Looks like you’ve got yourself in a sticky situation,” she said as Dark Cupid stared, shocked and annoyed at the candy apple currently stuck to his hand. He waved his hand, growling in frustration as he attempted to remove the Lucky Charm from his gloved hand. When he finally succeeded, he immediately grabbed an arrow and took aim at Ladybug, only to realize with his sticky gloves, he couldn’t properly release the arrow at his opponent.

“LADYBUG!” Dark Cupid shouted, anger filling his voice. Ladybug hopped down to a lower perch on the fountain. Now that Dark Cupid was occupied with cleaning the caramel from his glove and bow, she could deal with Chat.

“And now for the Pussycat,” she said, smirking at her partner. Chat glowered and lunged at her, but she was too quick, immediately leaping away along the fountains many statues. Chat Noir followed and just as she was about to make another leap, he lunged forward and knocked her to the ground.

“Chat Noir, her Miraculous,” Dark Cupid said, moving towards the fountain to wash away the sticky residue of the caramel apple.

“With pleasure,” Chat said, smiling wickedly down at the girl currently trapped beneath him. “Finally, I’ll find out who you are, Ladybug!” He used his free hand (the one not currently posed above his victim, surrounded with dark magic) to lift her earlobe, examining the spotted earrings she wore. The miraculous; the thing that made her Ladybug. Ladybug swallowed hard, panic in her blue eyes as she stared up at her partner. She knew she had to do something, but what?

“Your little secret will be out of the bag,” Chat continued, but before he could do anything else Ladybug lifted her hands and grabbed his face. His eyes widened as he looked at the hands currently framing his face. They widened even more when, without warning, Ladybug pulled his head down and pressed her lips to his. Chat stiffened, eyes impossibly wide as the magic currently possessing him began to ebb away. His eyes slid shut as he relaxed into the kiss, his hand lowering as the fight left him. Ladybug hadn’t known what to expect when she kissed her partner. She wasn’t entirely sure if a kiss really was enough to break the spell but for him, she had been willing to try it. It was her first kiss and she hadn’t really known what to expect, but the warmth that immediately furrowed through her and settled in the pit of her stomach had never been among the endless possibilities. This was Chat; her best friend, her partner, her confidant. He was her goofy, pun-loving cat. Nothing more. So why was she finding the kiss so damn pleasurable?

Opening her eyes suddenly, Ladybug released him and dropped her arms so they thudded lightly against the ground. She stared up at Chat as he sat up abruptly and looked around, eyes wide with confusion. “Huh!? Wh-What am I doing here?” He asked, looking around as if the answers he sought would appear out of thin air. Ladybug didn’t give him a chance to ask anything else. She grabbed his wrist and leg, hoisting him over her shoulders with practiced ease.

“No time. The quiver pin, Chat Noir. Now!” She said, before tossing him towards Dark Cupid. Chat yowled as he flew towards the akumatized victim, eyes wide with flight. Dark Cupid glanced up a moment before they collided, the tomcats weight enough to bring them to the ground. His hand controlling Cataclysm conveniently landed upon the quiver strap, causing it and the arrows to dissolve. “Grab it! Grab the pin!”

Chat Noir looked down and snatched up the pin, ignoring Dark Cupid’s protests. “Sorry. Need that.” He said, recovering quickly from his unexpected flight. Turning, he grinned at the spotted heroine. “Happy Valentines Day,” he said, tossing her the pin. Ladybug caught it with ease, her leg popping up as she pretended to be touched by the ‘gift’.

“Aww, you shouldn’t have,” she teased, smiling down at the pin before dropping it to the ground. “Whoops,” she said playfully, crushing the object under her foot. The second the object broke, a black and purple butterfly began to worm its way out of the object. Before it could get away, Ladybug used the tip of her finger to activate her Yo-Yo’s cleansing feature. “No more evil doing for you, little Akuma. Time to de-evilize!” She swung the Yo-Yo towards the butterfly, capturing it within the Yo-Yo before releasing it. The now white butterfly fluttered away as Dark Cupid morphed back into Kim in a haze of black and purple bubbles. “Bye bye little Butterfly,” she said, watching it disappear before turning away.

Ladybug tossed the candy apple up into the air with a cry of, “Miraculous Ladybug” and watched with the same awe she’d felt that first day as thousands of tiny magical ladybugs worked their magic to right the wrongs caused by the latest Akumatized victim. The girl held out her fist and smiled as her partner immediately bumped his fist against hers. “Pound it,” they said in unison before her Earrings beeped ominously.

“Oops,” Ladybug said, turning to leave. She stopped when Chat called out to her.

“Wait, Ladybug… I have to tell you something!” Chat said, reaching out towards her hesitantly. Ladybug shifted uneasily.

“Look, the kiss? I had to break the spell and-”

“Kiss? What kiss?” Chat asked in obvious confusion. Ladybug blinked at him, equally surprised. Did Chat not remember anything that had happened during their latest battle? “No, I just wanted to say-” His ring beeped before he could finish the sentence.

“Look out, Chat Noir, your ring is flashing,” Ladybug said urgently.

“Uh, yours too,” Chat said, pointing towards her miraculous.

“We’re about to turn into pumpkins,” Ladybug said with a shrug and a chuckle. “And personally, I’d rather not see that.”

The girl turned away again, fully planning on getting out of there before they detransformed, but gathering his courage Chat Noir once again stopped her, this time with a hand on her arm. “Wait, please. Will- will you meet up with me tonight? At the Eiffel Tower. Say around 8 o’clock? I really do have something I need to tell you.” Chat pleaded, ears drooping as he waited for her rejection. Surprisingly, it didn’t come. Ladybug looked back at her partner hesitantly and after a moment, an affectionate smile curved her lips and she found herself nodding.

“Alright, Chat. 8 o’clock. I’ll see you then.” Without awaiting a response, she whirled and took off, using her yo-yo to pull her up onto a nearby roof before sprinting towards home. Chat watched her go, a bubble of happiness filling him. He was going to see his Lady tonight and finally… he would tell her how he truly felt.

Ten minutes later, Marinette stood by the fence, watching as the mailman pulled up beside the mailbox in which she had deposited her card to Adrien. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the box, releasing the pile of letters inside. Tikki, her Kwami, popped up out of her purse to look up at her Chosen. “Hey, there’s your chance to get your card back,” she squeaked. The pigtailed girl laughed softly and shook her head.

“That was before,” the girl said quietly.

“Before what? Tell me!” Tikki exclaimed curiously.

“I realized that even with all of this hate everywhere, love still wins! But if I wanna win over Adrien, he needs to know the truth about how I feel!” She said with conviction in her voice. Tikki nodded her approval.

“Ah, this is a big day!” She said, pleased with her holder’s decision.

Across town, Adrien trudged into his room with a sigh and paused beside his bed, head bowed and shoulders slumped dejectedly. Plagg floated after him, his precious camembert clutched between his paws. “Ahahahahaha, can you believe all the horrible, thoughtless things you said to Ladybug?” He cackled, tossing the cheese up and swallowing it whole. Adrien sighed.

“You think its funny, huh?” He asked, allowing himself to fall face first onto the bed. After he had detransformed, his Kwami had wasted no time in telling him all the gory details of how he had treated Ladybug when Dark Cupid’s arrow of hate had possessed him. How was he going to tell her he loved her after that!?

“What’s the big deal? You’ve got so many cards from all these lady fans of yours. Take your pick!” The Kwami pointed out, diving into the pile of abandoned Valentines gifts and cars. He dug through the pile, tossing aside cards until he came across one in the shape of a heard. He stared at it speculatively before tossing it aside too. The card apparently had other plans, however, because rather than land in a heap with the others it floated over to settle on the bed beside the forlorn teenager. Opening his eyes, Adrien looked at the card before flipping it over to read it. Shock drove the boy into an upright position moments later.

“Wait, hold up! Someone answered my poem? But I threw it away!” He said, glancing at Plagg before reading the card out loud.

Your hair shines like the sun Your eyes are gorgeous green I look at you and wonder, your innermost thoughts and dreams Yes your Valentine I will be, our Love will be so true; Together For Eternity, my heart belongs to you

The boy gasped softly, undeniably delighted, while Plagg groaned in disgust and shook his head. “Well, anyone who writes as sickeningly sweet as you must be your soulmate.” Adrien turned back to the card, turning it this way and that before giving his Kwami a forlorn look.

“It isn’t signed,” he lamented sadly. Before he could dwell further on that, however, a ladybug fluttered past. The boy watched with fascination as the tiny, spotted creature landed on the card before fluttering away once more. He gasped slightly, delighted. Hopping up, he chased the little creature across the room, vaulting over his couch and stopping only when it departed the room through his open window. Pressing his hands to the glass, the boy stood on his tiptoes in hopes of catching one last glimpse of the little bug. “Could it have come from Ladybug?” He sighed wistfully, turning and sliding down to sit below the window with a lovesick grin. Plagg rolled his eyes in disgust at his holder’s sappiness.

“Oh puh-lease!” He said, shaking his head before floating off to eat more of his camembert.

Back across town, Marinette sat in her bedroom lips pursed as she thought hard back to earlier in the afternoon when she had first written the card to Adrien. “What do you mean you don’t remember? Did you sign the card or not?” Alya asked, eyeing her friend speculatively.

“I don’t know,” Marinette exclaimed fretfully, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “The ladybug came along while I was writing, then you were yapping about your blog, and then… it’s all a blur,” the girl sighed, throwing her hands up and shaking her head dejectedly. Alya burst out laughing with a shake of her head.

“I can’t believe you. The girl. Didn’t. Even. Sign it!” She giggled, grinning at her friend. “I love you and all, but sometimes you seriously bug. You know that, right?” She finished with a giggle. Marinette gave her a dubious look.

“I’m glad you find humor in my pain,” she said dryly, though a hint of a smile played at her lips. Alya grinned, totally unperturbed.

“Yeah, yeah, you love me. Anyway, girl. I gotta go update the Ladyblog. See you tomorrow?” She asked, glancing at her friend with a smile. Marinette nodded and the pair hugged before bidding each other a good night. Marinette watched her friend leave before her smile dropped and she sighed. How could I forget to sign the stupid card? She asked herself, allowing herself to fall face first onto the chaise. It was going to be a long night.

That night, as the clock struck eight, Ladybug set down upon the Eiffel Tower. The night was dark, barely a sliver of a moon to lighten the sky, but the tower was a beacon of light and warmth. Although she had spent most of the day fretting about the unsigned card, Marinette had mostly put the mishap behind her. It had been a long day. The Akuma attack hadn’t been one of the worst they had faced, but it had been one of the most disturbing. Chat Noir had taken an arrow originally meant for her and in doing so, had turned against her. Fighting her partner hadn’t been pleasant and she hoped never to have a repeat. She cared about the leather-clad hero more than she cared to admit and that kiss… wow. If that was how kissing Chat was when he was under an Akuma’s spell, she couldn’t imagine what kissing him for real must be like. That thought alone was enough to concern her.

Ladybug had always been very diligent about keeping her relationship with Chat professional. They were friends, of course. They worked well together and for all her complaints about his silly puns or his tendency of making jokes at inopportune times, she couldn’t imagine anyone else as her partner. She cared about Chat; she loved Adrien. Their kiss this afternoon should have meant nothing. It didn’t even count as a kiss because he had been under a spell and the kiss had been meant to save him. There had been no other way. So why did heat curl through the pit of her stomach as she recalled the soft press of his lips against hers? She ought to have been imagining what her first kiss with Adrien would be like; not reliving a stupid, meaningless kiss with Chat Noir. As if her thoughts had summoned him, Chat landed with a quiet thud behind her and Ladybug slowly turned to greet him. The words, however, died in her throat when she saw what her partner held in his hand.

Roses. A dozen of bright, red, perfect roses, tied with a single green ribbon. Ladybug opened her mouth in a little ‘o’ of shock as she stared wordlessly at the bouquet. Chat grinned impishly at rendering her speechless. “Chat got your tongue, my Lady?” He purred, moving closer with the bouquet still outstretched. Ladybug hesitantly lifted her hand, but rather than take the bouquet she trailed her fingers across one perfectly shaped rose almost reverently.

“Chat… they’re beautiful,” she breathed quietly. Chat made a soft sound of agreement at the back of his throat. Had Ladybug been looking up, she might have realized that Chat wasn’t referring to the roses when he agreed with her. In fact, his gaze wasn’t anywhere near the bouquet. Rather, his green eyes were locked on the spotted heroine before him, watching as the wind softly ruffled her hair and the lights of the Eiffel Tower seemed to bounce off her blue, blue eyes making them almost seem to sparkle. She might have noticed that Chat was looking at her with the same reverence that she looked at the roses. She would have noticed the sheer love and adoration that filled his gaze with longing for the girl before him.

When she finally lifted her gaze, he had successfully masked his adoration and was now giving her his trademark smirk. “Are you going to just stare at them or are you going to take them, Bugaboo?” He asked playfully. The girl blushed-actually blushed -and Chat felt his heart soar as she finally accepted the bouquet.

“I, um… I got you something too,” she said, suddenly fidgeting nervously. To say Chat was shocked was a gross understatement. Ladybug had gotten him something? He could honestly say without a doubt that he hadn’t expected anything from her. Turning away, she crossed to a small bag he hadn’t noticed before. Rummaging through the bag, she produced a small box and returned to his side before holding it out almost shyly. “It- it isn’t much but… here.” Chat smiled affectionately as he found the box being thrust awkwardly into his hands. Clearly, Ladybug felt awkward about this whole gift-giving between partners things. “Um, I wasn’t sure what flavor you liked so… so I just went with chocolate. I mean, everyone likes chocolate, right?” She squeaked,

Curious, Chat opened the box. Inside was a small, rectangular cake. The cake was chocolate, with a thick fudge frosting covering the top and sides. Against the dark brown of the frosting was swirly green lettering that read ‘Joyeuse Saint Valentin, Chat Noir’. When he looked up, Ladybug was smiling softly and holding out a fork.

“You look like a kid on Christmas Day,” she teased as he mutely took the fork from her. He smiled back at her.

“I feel like a kid on Christmas Day,” he responded, sliding the fork into the cake. It was so pretty, he was almost reluctant to eat it but he couldn’t resist. He had always had a major sweet tooth and besides, Ladybug had given it to him. How could he not eat it? He lifted the fork to his mouth and slid the bite of cake between his lips. His eyes immediately widened and with a nervous titter Ladybug leaned forward. He had never seen such a look of concern on her face.

“What’s wrong, Chat? Is it bad? Is it the worst thing you’ve ever tasted? Omigawd, Chat, spit it out!” She squeaked fearfully, reaching out to take the cake from his grasp. She fully intended to hurl the offending cake over the edge of the Eiffel Tower and into oblivion but Chat expertly evaded her grasp.

“Bad? Mon Dieu, Bugaboo. This is paws down the best cake I’ve ever tasted! Where did you buy it!?” Chat exclaimed, beaming at her with a grin that could have rivaled the sun, it was so bright. Ladybug blinked, shocked at his proclamation, before dropping her eyes and shuffling in embarrassment.

“I uh… I actually um… I made it?” She stammered, wincing at the silence that followed her words. Risking a glance up, she found her partner staring at her, mouth open in shock.

“ You made this?” Chat asked in disbelief. Ladybug had personally, handmade him a valentines present? Normally, girls only went through that much trouble for boys they liked. They didn’t typically do it for friends so did that mean… did Ladybug like him back? Chat thought back to the poem that afternoon; the answer to the one he had written and thrown away during class. Had Ladybug really written it for him? But then, why would she send it to his Civilian self… if that were the case? Did she know who he was beneath the mask? He didn’t think she did. In fact, he was certain she had no clue. That left the alternative. Perhaps Ladybug went to his school. Perhaps she was even in his class and maybe, just maybe, she liked his civilian self. He hardly dared to hope that was the case.  Frowning slightly, Chat debated simply coming out and asking but… Ladybug wasn’t likely to just tell him the truth. No, he had to be craftier than that. Perhaps… aha, that could work…

Ladybug watched Chat curiously. He had fallen silent and she could almost see the wheels turning in his head. She wondered what he was thinking about so deeply when suddenly his green gaze shifted to fix on her. A small, innocent smile curved his lips and Ladybug stiffened apprehensively. What is he planning? She wondered warily.

“This is amazing, my Lady. I uh… I actually made you something too.” He said suddenly. The pigtailed girl blinked in confusion before curiosity got the better of her. Luckily, she wasn’t a cat so she had a much better time surviving her next question.

“Really? What is it?” She asked, canting her head to the side.

“Well, technically I wrote you something. A… a poem of sorts,” Chat said, moving closer until he stood directly in front of her. The new position forced Ladybug to tilt her head back in order to maintain eye contact with him and she idly wondered when her partner had gotten so tall.

“A poem?” She asked uncertainty.

“A poem,” he confirmed with a smile. “Would you like to hear it?” Ladybug hesitated briefly but found herself nodding slowly. She was too curious to deny him at this point and Chat flashed her a Cheshire grin, pleased with her answer before he began to speak, his voice taking on a deeper timbre that did things to her.

Your hair is dark as night Your pretty bluebell eyes

Ladybug blinked curiously, wondering at the words that sounded so familiar. She couldn’t place exactly where she had heard them before though.

I wonder who you are Beneath that strong disguise

Slowly, her eyes widened and her heart stuttered nervously. Her mind flashed back to that afternoon. Back to an empty classroom and a crumpled up piece of paper fished from the depths of a wastebasket.

Every day we see each other And I hope that you’ll be mine

The girl looked up at Chat as he smiled warmly down at her. When his hand moved up to brush back the lock of hair that had fallen across her forehead, her breath hitched and something in her belly tightened.

Together our love could be so true Please will you be my Valentine

As the poem came to an end, Chat cupped the girl’s face in one hand, his thumb swiping at the tears she hadn’t even realized were falling. Concern lit up Chat’s green eyes as she stared into his Lady’s face. Never before had he seen the spotted heroine looking so scared and vulnerable. He would be lying if he said it didn’t scare him. Ladybug was always strong and infallible. To see her looking so completely petrified now made his heart drop and his throat tightens nervously.

“M-My Lady? W-What’s wrong?” Chat stammered. The girl blinked, and when she opened her mouth it wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

Your hair shines like the sun Your eyes are gorgeous green

Chat Noir’s eyes widened as the familiar words, first read only a few hours earlier, filled the space between them. He hadn’t truly allowed himself to hope that the words that had so captivated him earlier had come from his Lady but now…

I look at you and wonder, your innermost thoughts and dreams

The leather-clad hero felt his breath hitch in his throat as Ladybug stared up at him. Her eyes seemed to hold all the answers that he had sought for so long. They were beautiful, captivating, and for the first time, she seemed to actually be seeing him. Not as her goofy dork of a partner… but as if he were the sun, the stars, and the moon. She was looking at him the way he had often looked at him. There was a childlike wonder in the way she was looking at him now and it made his heart leap with joy.

Yes your Valentine I will be, our Love will be so true; Together For Eternity, my heart belongs to you

Chat Noir let out a shaky breath as Ladybug stepped forward, closing the sliver of space between them. When she spoke again, a myriad of emotions laced her words. Worry, confusion, hope, fear, anger, happiness and relief and… something else that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. “A-Adrien?” She whispered nervously. Chat’s eyes widened at the sound of his civilian name falling from her lips.

“M-my Lady? Y-You know me? Outside of the suit?” He asked uncertainly. He had to be sure. The raven-haired girl nodded mutely and the boy felt his heart thud painfully. “A-and you answered my poem?” Again she nodded, her luminous blue eyes never leaving his. “A-and you s-sent the card to me… t-to Adrien?” She nodded a third time, swallowing hard before finally finding her voice.

“I- I forgot to sign it,” she squeaked, cheeks reddening below the mask.

“I noticed,” Chat laughed ruefully. “So… you like Adrien? You… you like my Civilian self?” Ladybug nodded slowly.

“And you like Ladybug. You like my alter ego,” she whispered, and immediately a fresh wave of tears flooded her eyes and a broken sob escaped her. “I- I’m so stupid. I- I can’t believe I lost the love of my life to MYSELF!” She spat, turning away and wrapping her arms around herself as if she could physically stop the pain currently unfurling in the pit of her stomach. It took Chat a moment to respond. He was rather hung up on the fact that Ladybug had just called him the love of her life. She loved him. She loved him. Ladybug loved him. The indescribable joy he felt upon that realization was shattered when the rest of her words caught up to him, punctuated by a soft, heartbroken sob. Alarmed, Chat reached for the girl.

“Ladybug, I-”

“Don’t,” the girl growled, evading his grasp and taking several large steps away from him. She glared up at him forlornly through her tears. “You- you don’t get to pretend you like me when all you ever see is the mask. You’re like everyone else. Everyone is in love with the mask…no one cares about the girl underneath.” She scoffed, shaking her head in disgust. Chat bristled and closed the space between them in three strides, grasping her shoulders to hold her in place when she would have moved away from him once more. She glared up at him and he glared down at her.

“Don’t you dare discredit my feelings for you. I love you .” He said firmly. The girl snorted and tried to free herself from his grasp but his hold was like steel.

“You don’t know me, Chat. Under the mask, I’m clumsy and awkward and shy. I am nothing like Ladybug and if I told you who I was, you would turn away from me. Everyone would. You would… you would lose faith in me-” She broke off abruptly, bottom lip quivering as she fought back her tears.

“You’re wrong. I might not know you personally, but I know you better than anyone else. I know you’re smart, clever, and funny. I know you take your responsibilities more seriously than anyone I’ve ever known. I know that you’re kind and loyal and protective. I know you strive for perfection and I know you fear falling short of perfection in the eyes of your peers. I know you aren’t perfect. I know you’re rash and impulsive at times; I know you hate it when people compare you to Chloe Bourgeois and I know you can be a little prone to jealousy at times. I also know you can be insanely impatient at times,” he smiled as the girl wrinkled her nose and furrowed her brow. “I know you're amazing, with or without the mask. The mask is just that, Bugaboo. It’s a costume; a disguise. Sure, the Miraculous make us stronger and faster and gives us amazing powers, but we are still the same people underneath. You’re an amazing person, and I love you… whether you’re Ladybug… or Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

Chat smirked as the girl’s head snapped up, eyes blown wide with shock at his words. “H-how… but how did… when did…” She stammered nervously. Chat chuckled and cupped her cheek affectionately.

“I told you. I don’t see the mask, I see you, Marinette. You can’t hide anymore.” His thumb brushed back and forth across her cheek as she stared at him, her luminous blue eyes showcasing an endless stream of emotions. There were too many to decipher, and Chat was more than content to wait for her to sort through her emotions. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but in reality was less than five minutes, a look of determination and resoluteness settled upon the girl’s face. Chat quirked an eyebrow and started to speak, but was stopped when the girl suddenly grabbed his head, fingers delving into the soft golden hair framing his face, and pulled him down to claim his mouth with hers. The boy took only a nanosecond before giving into the kiss. The two released their transformations and Tikki giggled as she floated discreetly away with a grumbling Plagg, as the pair of lovers rediscovered their partner in a whole new way.

[epiclilkitty-blog]

I’m In Heaven When You Kiss Me

Mild Maturity Warning. Includes heavy makeout session/petting

Marinette Dupain-Cheng laughed happily and allowed herself to be drawn into a side hug by her best friend, Alya Cesaire. Never before had she imagined her life could turn out so utterly perfect… but at this moment in time, she felt like she was on top of the world. It was her eighteenth birthday; Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng had opted to go out of town for the night, allowing their daughter to have the house to herself for her birthday. Alya had immediately latched upon that and in a matter of days, a party had been planned. Now, three hours into said party and it didn’t seem to be winding down in the least. In the kitchen, Rose and Juleka were flirting shamelessly as they replenished the snacks set out. They had started dating their Sophomore Year of High School and were still going strong two years later, in their senior year. Max, Kim, and Alix were sitting on the couch, locked in a heated debate about the newest Ultra Mecha Strike Game which had come out a few weeks previously. They had just gotten done with a gaming tournament which Marinette had won, much to her pleasure. It was good to know she was still the best at something, even if it was something as trivial as video games. Lately, her muse for designing had been rather lacking and because of that, she had spent the last few weeks in a haze of insecurities. Now, however, her problems were the furthest thing from her mind.

In the corner of the room, Mylene and Ivan leaned into each other, speaking quietly as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. Alya had been quick to dub the pair ‘couple goals’ since they had been together since Middle School and never seemed to fight or even disagree. They truly were an adorable couple. Movement from the doorway grabbed their attention and Marinette felt her heart leap to her throat as Adrien and Nino returned to the room, carrying an empty wine bottle. Alya had tasked the boys to find a suitable bottle but had refused to tell anyone what she was up to. To say Marinette was suspicious was an understatement. Spotting them, Alya released her friend and bounced across the room with a devious grin curving her lips. Nino chuckled as she all but snatched the bottle from him (because he had already totally guessed what she was planning) and held it proudly above her head.

“Alright, nerds, whose up for a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven?” Alya announced, voice ringing out loudly. Instantly all attention shifted to her as a murmur of interest went around the room. Marinette flushed, mortified.

“AL~YA!” She shrieked, causing several people to wince as her voice shot up several octaves.

“Calm down, girl. You’ll thank me later,” Alya promised, smirking. Adrien looked at them curiously.

“What’s Seven Minutes in Heaven?” He asked, glancing between the two girls. Marinette blushed a deep red and dropped her eyes, but before she had a chance to respond, Alya spoke up, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“You’ll find out soon, lover boy. Alright nerds, circle up. Marinette is the birthday girl, so she gets to go first!” She announced. The group abandoned whatever they were doing and gathered in the center of the room, shoving furniture aside and sitting down in a large circle. Marinette blushed warmly as she saw Adrien sit directly across from her. The bottle was placed in the center of the circle. “Alright, aside from our sweet little cinnamon roll over here-” Alya began, jerking her thumb in Adrien’s direction.

Adrien looked up in confusion at the comment but Alya moved on before he could ask what she meant by that...

“-everyone knows the rules right? The first group will use Marinette’s bedroom; the second will use the downstairs closet, and we’ll switch off as each group returns. Understood?” Alya looked around as nods and murmurs of agreement echoed around the room. The only two who didn’t nod was Adrien, who still looked helplessly confused, and Marinette whose face was red with embarrassment.

“Alright Mari, spin the bottle,” Alya said impatiently, elbowing her sharply in the ribs. Swallowing hard, Marinette crawled forward and reached for the bottle. The glass felt cold and hard beneath her suddenly clammy fingers. Taking a fortifying breath, she spun the bottle hard. The group watched, Marinette rather apprehensively while the others held various levels of interest on their faces, as the bottle made one full spin, then two, then three. Suddenly, Alya’s hand shot out, stopping the bottle on its fifth spin. When everyone shot her amused and curious looks, she smiled innocently. “Um… there’s a spin limit?” She offered, batting her eyes in the picture of innocence.

“Since when!?” Marinette protested, not noticing yet where exactly the bottle had been stopped. Alya smiled deviously.

“Since now. So I guess whoever it stopped on-”

“You stopped it, I don’t think it counts-”

“-is the one you have to take upstairs,” Alya continued on as if she hadn’t spoken. Marinette glared at her but when Alya nodded expectantly towards the bottle, the pigtailed girl reluctantly dropped her gaze and followed the line of the bottle to… Mon Dieu, I’m going to die, the girl thought as she looked up to meet Adrien’s eyes. The boy was smiling warmly at her, completely oblivious as to what the bottle landing on him meant. Rising immediately, he offered his hand to the girl, his smile never wavering.

“So I guess we have to go to your room then?” He asked and she nodded mutely, allowing him to pull her to her feet and lead her to the stairs. Behind her, a few of their classmates whooped and whistled and Alya called out a quick ‘you go girl!’ but neither teen paid them any mind as they ascended the stairs to the bedroom. Marinette’s breath hitched as the trapdoor closed ominously behind them. Adrien took a seat on the Chaise, patting the spot beside him, but Marinette was too nervous to sit.

“Adrien, um… I feel I should tell you what exactly Seven Minutes in Heaven is-” she squeaked, turning to face him while wringing her hands anxiously. Adrien smiled expectantly up at her, not commenting on the fact that she now strongly resembled a tomato.

“Go for it. I’m curious. I’ve never heard of this game before. Is it kinda like truth or dare or twenty questions?” He asked, blinking up at her. Marinette groaned and turned away from him. He was going to be the death of her. He was so sweet, so innocent, and Alya no doubt expected her to corrupt him in the best way possible. No, no she couldn’t. She couldn’t corrupt the sweet little cinnamon roll. Could she…? NO! No, it was wrong; immoral. She was a despicable human being for even thinking it. “Mari? Are you okay?” Adrien asked, touching her shoulder in worry. Marinette spun with a startled ‘eep’ and looked up into his green, green eyes. She hadn’t even heard him get up, but now she found Adrien standing before him in all his golden-haired glory. They were so close and it would be so easy to just reach up and kiss him. She wanted to kiss him but first…

“It’s a make-out game,” she blurted out, and almost comically all of the color drained from her face leaving her pale as a ghost. She stared wide-eyed at Adrien as he blinked, processing her words.

“L-like… k-kissing?” He asked, voice jumping up an octave.

“We don’t have to do anything! We can just talk. Oh god, I knew this was a terrible idea. Look, Adrien, we don’t even have to look at each other. We can just-”

“Marinette.” Adrien’s voice cut through her nervous babbling and she peeked up to find him smiling affectionately down at her. “Mari, chill. It’s fine, I uh… I don’t mind.”

“Y-you don’t?” Marinette whispered, color returning to her face with a vengeance. The sudden rush of blood caused a wave of dizziness to run through her and she swayed unsteadily. Taking her hand, Adrien led her back to the chaise and sat them down, his grip on her hand never wavering.

“Not at all. I- I think you’re cool and pretty… really pretty... and if there was anyone in our class to get stuck in a situation like this with… I’m glad it’s you,” he smiled warmly, before balking at his words. “Not that I’m stuck here! Mon Dieu, I didn’t mean it like that Mari. I want to be here,” he quickly backtracked. He stopped when Marinette giggled.

“I- I’m glad it’s you, too, Adrien,” she whispered, dropping her eyes nervously. Adrien smiled, lifting his hand to cup her chin. His thumb gently caressed her cheek as he tilted her face up and slowly moved down to kiss her. Marinette let out a breathy sigh as his lips brushed against hers one, twice, a third time. Each movement was gentle, teasing. A way to test the waters. When no resistance came, Adrien shifted closer and pressed his mouth firmly against hers, his grip on her chin tightening. Warmth seemed to curl around the pair as their lips moved together, perfectly in sync. When Adrien’s tongue ran along Marinette’s bottom lip, she didn’t hesitate to permit him entrance and suddenly, languid warmth turned to explosive heat.

Marinette let out a soft, happy whine as Adrien’s tongue swept into her mouth, tangling with hers as he slanted his head for a better angle. When his mouth left hers, she whimpered in disappointment but the sound was replaced by a delighted sigh as Adrien trailed kisses across her jaw and down the column of her slender neck. At the apex of her neck and shoulder, Adrien nipped her sharply, eliciting a sharp cry from the girl’s mouth. Encouraged by the unintentional sound of pleasure, Adrien lavished the spot with attention. He nibbled, sucked, and licked the skin, manipulating the blood beneath before shifting back and admiring his handiwork. Marinette would certainly be hard-pressed to hide the hickey currently gracing the side of her neck when she went to school on Monday. He smiled, thoroughly pleased with himself before Marinette’s hands fisted the folds of his shirt and she dragged him back down, reclaiming his mouth with hers. Adrien chuckled against their joined mouths at her obvious impatience.

“Something wrong, Princess?” He purred, unintentionally taking on his Chat persona (or was it purr-sona? lol) in the heat of the moment.

“Shut up and kiss me, Adrien,” Marinette growled against his mouth and he was happy to comply. They fell silent once more at their mouths moved over one another, their tongues locked in a battle for dominance that neither would ever truly win. As the kiss began to heat up and went from slow and calculating to fast and desperate, Adrien dragged the girl onto his lap until she straddled him. Marinette’s hands moved from his face to burrow into the silky golden strands of his hair as she kissed him with a fervor she didn’t even know she possessed until that moment. Adrien, in turn, dropped his hands lower until they settled on her hips, kneading the flesh there as their mouths moved as one.

Eventually, the need for skin on skin contact consumed him and Adrien edged his hands beneath her shirt hesitantly. When the girl didn’t protest, he traced his hands upward, following the natural curve of her body with his hands until he reached the edge of her bra. There, he hesitated once more, a silent question. Marinette moaned her acquiescence into his mouth and moving his hands to her back, the boy fumbled to release the clasps of her bra. He growled in frustration when what should have been an easy feat proved much more difficult than he originally anticipated and Marinette giggled breathlessly. Sitting up, she reached behind her back and deftly released the clasp of the bra before sliding the straps from her arms and tossing it away with nary a care as to where it wound up.

Before Adrien could take another breath, her mouth found his once more and the boy once more found his hands moving beneath her shirt, this time without the slightest hint of hesitance. His hands resumed their upward path once more until he lightly traced the underside of her breasts with the pads of his thumb. Marinette’s breath hitched unsteadily before she moaned as the boy cupped her fully. He kneaded her breasts gently as her mouth left his to follow the same path his had taken earlier. She kissed along his jaw, alternating between featherlight kisses and sharp, playful nips as she worked her way down his neck and throat. She paused as she reached the apex of his neck and shoulder but before she could return the favor he had given her early, Adrien shifted back slightly.

“M-Mari, you can’t leave a mark,” he said breathlessly.

“Because of your modeling?” She asked, sounding surprisingly composed considering their current situation. He nodded reluctantly as a contemplative look crossed her face. “What if… what if it weren’t visible?” She asked, a devious smile slowly curving her lips. Adrien gave her a curious look.

“What do you mean?” He asked, wondering what she was up too. Marinette didn’t answer. Instead, she shifted to her knees and planted her hands on his chest. She gave him a soft, lingering chest before pushing him suddenly. Adrien blinked, startled as he suddenly found himself lying flat on his back on the chaise, a grinning Marinette hovering above him. She giggled, amused, before backing up slightly and sliding her hands under his shirt.

“Can I take this off?” She asked and Adrien nodded mutely. Adrien had worn a button up shirt that day, and it was about to prove a wise and beneficial choice. Marinette shifted forward so that she hovered over the boy, her knees on either side of his hips and her hands planted on either side of his chest, just below his armpits. She lowered herself to her elbows, bracing herself before moving her hands to the first button. Marinette worked methodically, kissing her way down his chest as each button was released and the shirt was laid open, baring his chest for her perusal. When all the buttons had been undone and Adrien shrugged off the shirt, she sat back slightly and made a soft, appreciative sound.

Adrien swallowed thickly at the lust shimmering in her gorgeous bluebell eyes and he reached for her, desperate to kiss her senseless once more. Marinette apparently had other plans though, because she caught his wrists and pinned them above his head with a mischievous smile. She dropped a light, teasing kiss on the corner of his mouth before winking at him playfully. Adrien’s heart thudded painfully as his already tight jeans suddenly became significantly tighter.

“Marinette-” he began, but she shook her head and tsked at him.

“So impatient, Minou,” she purred, and Adrien stiffened slightly at the nickname. He eyed Marinette as she turned her attention away from him. There was only one person who called him Minou, and that was his beloved Lady. Did Marinette know? And if she did, did that mean she was…? He quickly discarded the thought. Marinette was too sweet and shy to be his Lady. Well, sort of. She wasn’t exactly acting sweet or shy at the moment. She most certainly wasn’t acting like the innocent Marinette he had come to know and lo- um, adore. His thoughts were derailed when Marinette suddenly shifted downwards, her fingers trailing lightly over the obvious bulge in his pants. Adrien hissed at the feeling and gave the girl a pained, accusatory look.

“You’re a dirty tease, Dupain-Cheng,” he growled, lips settling into a pout. She giggled as she repeated her actions, watching with speculative amusement as he jumped as if he had been shocked. It was fascinating to see the power she held over him. One little touch and he was putty in her hands. It was an empowering thought.

“You love it, Agreste .” She teased, moving to repeat the action. Before she could, Adrien’s hand shot out to catch her wrist as he gave her a panicked look.

“Mon Dieu, Marinette. If you keep doing that I will die,” he squeaked. She blinked, a little surprised at the urgency in his voice, before smiling in amusement.

“Fair enough. They do look a little tight though,” she murmured speculatively. Before Adrien could stop her, she unbuttoned his jeans and Adrien sent a silent prayer of thanks to whatever God was listening that he had actually worn underwear today. Clearly, someone was looking out for him. Once again, he found his thoughts derailed as Marinette tugged his pants a bit lower and dropped her mouth to his pelvis, just above his hips. Adrien closed his eyes, teeth clenched as she set about making her own mark, this one not nearly as easily seen as the one he had left on her. When she was finished, she crawled up his chest and sealed her mouth to his once more. She was just beginning to allow herself to melt into the kiss when Adrien’s arm snaked around her and suddenly she found their positions reversed. Marinette blinked up at him, startled by their sudden change in position. The boy smirked.

“That was a dirty trick you pulled earlier, Mari. It isn’t nice to tease,” he murmured, his voice a low, seductive purr. Something tightened in Marinette’s lower body as she stared up at the boy she had been in love with for so long now.

“Y-you liked it, Minou,” she whispered shakily. Adrien tsked lightly.

“It was still rude and you know what they say…” he trailed off and Marinette’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“W-What do they say?” She asked nervously. Adrien’s grin widened mischievously down at the girl currently trapped beneath him.

“Paybacks a bitch,” he said, and suddenly Marinette found herself shrieking with laughter as the boy began to tickle her mercilessly. Adrien watched in utter adoration and admiration as the girl writhed beneath him gasping for breath as peals of laughter escaped her beautiful throat. “Say mercy and I’ll release you,” he offered, tickling up her sides with a grin. Marinette shook her head adamantly.

“N-n-never!” She squealed as he resumed his tickling with renewed fervor, determined that by the end of this, she would submit.

“Give in, Mari!”

“I- I won’t .”

“You have to eventually!”

“No, I d-don’t!” She shrieked as he discovered a particularly ticklish spot and finally gave in. “Okay, okay, Mercy!”

Adrien grinned triumphantly and leaned down to capture her mouth in a dizzying kiss before collapsing on the chaise, thoroughly spent. He shifted until they were side by side, not wanting to crush the smaller girl beneath his weight, and pulled her into his arms before dropping an affectionate kiss on the tip of her nose. It was in that position that Alya discovered the giggling teens. She blinked, thoroughly shocked the pair had actually done anything, and slowly backed out of the room without a word. No way was she going to be the one to ruin the good thing these two had going here. Marinette could thank her later.