-5- Realization

Cat Noir stares in shock as Marinette, who was just Ladybug, climbs down through her trapdoor to her bedroom. "Marinette is Ladybug? But that's... impossible." He starts to remember all the times he visited Marinette as his alter ego and when Ladybug met him as his civilian self. How could Marinette be Ladybug? But, if Adrien loves Ladybug, and Marinette is Ladybug, does that mean he's in love with Marinette? His thoughts were making his head hurt and he decides to go home. He needs time to think about this.

"Plagg, claws in." Adrien lowers his head. "Marinette is Ladybug."

"You don't sound so happy about it," Plagg says. "I can't believe you followed Ladybug home. Tikki will kill me if she finds out!"

"I was just so curious." Adrien falls back on his bed and stares at the ceiling. "I can't believe Ladybug is Marinette and Marinette is Ladybug."

Plagg floats over his head. "I was wondering when you'd finally figure it out."

"What?" Adrien sits up and glares at him. "Plagg, you knew?"

"Of course. I even know Ladybug's kwami." Plagg smiles. "Tikki..."

Adrien grabs Plagg and holds him in his hand. "This entire time, you knew Marinette was Ladybug and didn't tell me?"

"Hey, don't blame me! You knew I couldn't say anything."

He sighs. "Wait. Is that why you're always teasing me about Marinette?"

Plagg sighs. "Yes. You have no idea how hard it was to keep it a secret. I'm hungry. Do you have any cheese?" Adrien rolls his eyes and climbs off the bed to grab his kwami some cheese. "Thanks, Adrien!" Plagg finishes it in one bite.

Adrien sits at his desk and turns on his computer, scrolling through saved pictures of Ladybug. "The girl I'm in love with was right in front of me the entire time." He smiles and goes to a different photo album. A picture of Marinette laughing pops up.

"You creep," Plagg says over his shoulders. "First pictures of Ladybug, and now her?" He eats another piece of cheese.

He pushes Plagg away and smiles at the picture of Marinette. "What do I do now? Do I tell Ladybug, uh Marinette, that I know her identity?"

"NO!" Plagg grabs Adrien's face. "You can't let anyone know you know about Ladybug. It would put Marinette in danger! What if Hawk Moth found out who she really is?"

Sighing, Adrien frowns and looks back at the computer. "I meant what I said, Plagg. I would protect Ladybug and Marinette with my life."

"You can't tell Marinette you know. Got it?" After Adrien nods, Plagg flies and lays on his pillow. "I'm going to sleep now. Don't wake me up, unless you find some more cheese."

Rolling his eyes, Adrien scrolls through more pictures of Marinette. He grins at a picture Alya took of her, mid fall. He smiles at her clumsiness. Adrien can't believe he always chose Ladybug over her, even if they were the same person. Everything is clear to him now. Why Marinette is always so nervous around him. She loves him. That had to be why. His heart sank and he frowned. Ladybug didn't like Cat Noir, which meant Mariniette didn't like Cat Noir. If she found out Adrien was both, would she still like him? Both of him? He wants Marinette to love his alter ego, too, because then it would mean she loves everything about him. Good and bad.

"I can hear you drooling over Mariniette," Plagg mumbles. Adrien throws a dirty sock at him.

***

"Adrien..." Mariniette whispers to herself as she dreams about him. They're married, with three kids and a hamster named—

"MARINETTE!" Tikki shouts in her ear. "You're going to be late for school!"

Her eyes snap open. "Huh? What?"

Tikki laughs. "You were dreaming about Adrien again, weren't you?"

"No, I-I wasn't." Marinette climbs out of bed. The blanket tangles around her ankle and she trips, falling face first down the stairs. That only made her knee hurt more. She stared wearing a brace. Doctor's orders. "Why do I have to be so clumsy?"

"You better hurry up and get dressed, Marinette. Don't you remember Miss Bustier's showing all the short movies made for the class project?"

Her eyes widen. "No! No! No, no, no! Everyone's going to see Adrien and I kissing!" She hides her face in a pillow. "That's so embarrassing!"

"Why?" Tikki asks. "It's just a kiss."

"Just a kiss?!" Marinette whips her head around. "It was my first kiss! With Adrien! Ahh!" She frowns and sighs. "He probably regrets kissing me."

"No, he doesn't." Tikki hugs Marinette's face. "You and Adrien are even closer than before."

"You're right." Marinette stands up. "It was just a kiss for a class project. It doesn't mean Adrien and I are going to fall in love, get married, have three kids, and a hamster named—"

The trapdoor opens and her mom pops her head in. "Marinette! You're going to be late for school!"

"I'm getting dressed, Mom!" She closes the trap door and starts getting ready. "I'm seeing Adrien today. After we kissed." She quickly gets her shoes on and runs downstairs. "Bye, Mom. Bye, Papa." She gives her parents a kiss before running outside. "What if things are awkward between Adrien and I, Tikki?"

"You already make things awkward, Marinette." Tikki laughs. "It can't get any more awkward."

"I guess you're right—" Marinette runs straight into Adrien's back. "Oh. Adrien! I'm so sorry."

"Marinette!" Adrien beams with a smile. "I'm so glad you're here.  I was actually looking for you."

Her eyes widen. "Y-You were?"

He nods. "Yeah. I..." He scratches the back of his neck. He's never nervous around Marinette. "I wanted to know if you ended up submitting the short movie we made."

"Oh. Umm, yeah I did." She frowns. She thought it was something else.

"Good. Because it would suck failing when we worked so hard on it." He smiles and laughs. "Do you wanna walk to class together?"

"Sure!" Marinette nods fast. "I mean. That's cool. Sure."

Adrien and Marinette walk into school together. He can't help but glance at her, desperate to tell her everything. Standing in front of him, it's hard to believe that Marinette could be Ladybug. Ladybug was confident and definitely not clumsy. She looks over and Adrien blushes, looking away. They walk into Miss Bustier's classroom and take their seats. He immediately turns around to talk to Marinette, who's secretly squealing on the inside.  "So, what do you think we got on the project?"

"Hopefully an A," Marinette says, distracted by his green eyes. He was paying more attention to her, even more than usual. Alya and Nino noticed, too.

Chloe walks in and spots Adrien talking to Marinette. She frowns, angry, and stomps over. "Adrien..." She runs a sly finger on his desk. "Let's go and see a movie after school. My treat. What do you say?" She winks and blows him a kiss.

Marinette's face turns red in jealousy.

Adrien shakes his head. "Sorry, Chloe, but I already have plans."

"With who?" Chloe questions, crossing her arms.

"Marinette." He turns and winks at her.

Her eyes widen. "Yeah, Chloe. And with Alya and Nino!" She grabs Alya's arm. "We're getting ice cream after school."

Chloe rolls her eyes. "I don't know why you spend so much time with the Geek Squad, Adrien."

"Maybe because they're better people?" He challenges.

"Ugh!" Chloe stomps her foot. "Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" She walks over and sits with Sabrina, turning ever so often to glare at Marinette.

"So, we have plans now?" Alya asks Adrien.

He nods. "Yeah." He turns his attention on Marinette. "If you want, Marinette?"

She nods. "Yes. I love you. I mean. I love ice cream! I only love ice cream." She fakes a smile and tries not to burst into flames.

"Awesome, dudes." Nino and Alya share a look.

Miss Bustier walks into class. "Already, students. Settle down. As you all know, I had you create short movies with your partners. And I have to say one stood out from the rest. Marinette, Adrien. Please stand up."

They both stand up slowly, nervous.

"Your short movie about Ladybug and Cat Noir was beautiful. Inspiring, even. But..." She frowns. "It was not an original, so I can only give you half credit, and I'm afraid I won't be able to share it with the class."

"Aww..." The class groans.

Secretly, Marinette and Adrien were happy. They look too similar to their alter egos and it would give people the wrong ideas. It might even help them learn who Ladybug and Cat Noir really are.

Except, one person knows already...

Marinette sits down with a smile on her face. "Oh, thank you..."

"What do you mean, 'thank you'?" Alya leans over and whispers. "You're only getting half credit."

"Yeah, but now no one can see Adrien and I kissing."

Despite whispering, Adrien could hear Marinette. A frown sets on his face. Was she really embarrassed by him that she would accept half credit? That she didn't want the class to see them kiss? Maybe he was wrong about her. Maybe Marinette didn't like him and his hope got the best of him. His shoulders fall and Miss Bustier starts showing the other short movies.

***

After paying for ice cream, the four of them walk to the park and sit at the water fountain. Alya and Nino pair off, flirting and constantly touching each other. Marinette and Adrien sit on the other side, quiet. Adrien couldn't stop thinking about what Marinette said in class, how she was glad the class wouldn't see them kissing. He thinks back on after they finished filming and Marinette was acting weird around him. He had asked if something was wrong, but she wouldn't say. Not truly, anyway. Adrien could tell she was lying, and now he knew why. She didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Once again, Adrien was wrong about everything.

Ten minutes pass and Marinette and Adrien haven't spoken a word to each other. He won't even look her in the eye. Marinette glances over, confused, and turns to look at Alya. She and Nino are feeding each other ice cream. With a smile, she dips some ice cream on her spoon and offers a bite to Adrien. "Want some?"

Adrien shakes his head. "No, thank you. I'm not in the mood to eat."

Frowning, she asks, "What's wrong, Adrien?"

He couldn't tell her the truth, so he lies. "I'm just really disappointed with our grade. I wish we could have gotten full credit. Our short movie was so good. We worked so hard on it."

Marinette stares at him with a sad smile. She lifts the spoon up, trying again. "I think ice cream will cheer you up."

For a moment, Adrien smiles, but he frowns again. It makes her heart ache. Even she couldn't make him feel better. "I'm sorry, Marinette, but I have to go. I have my piano lessons. I'll see you at school tomorrow." He pats her on the shoulder before walking over to his bodyguard. He climbs in his car and disappears around the corner.

Marinette watches him leave and her shoulders fall. All she wants to do is help him.

Alya walk up to her, asking, "Where's Adrien going? Why did he leave?"

"He said he had piano lessons," Marinette whispers, standing up. "I'm gonna get going, too."

"No, Marinette. I'm sorry Adrien left, but you can still hang out with Nino and I." She gestures to Nino, who smiles and waves.

She shakes her head. "No, it's okay. Enjoy your ice cream. I have to do something, anyway." She hugs Alya before taking off and running towards the school. She hopes Miss Bustier is still there. Running in, she heads upstairs to her classroom and runs straight into her teacher. "Miss Bustier!" She takes in a deep breath, panting. "I need... to talk... to you."

"This couldn't wait until class tomorrow?" Miss Bustier asks, laughing.

"Please give Adrien full credit!" Marinette pleads, begging with her hands pressed together. "He deserves it more than anything."

"I'm sorry, Marinette, but your idea wasn't original."

Marinette shakes her head. "Is anything original in movies? Inspiration has to come from somewhere. Look, I'll take half credit, but Adrien deserves full credit. It was his idea and he worked really hard."

Smiling, Miss Bustier nods. "Alright. You've convinced me. I'll give Adrien full credit for the project."

Marinette's eyes widen. "Yes! Thank you!"

"It's really sweet of you to do this for Adrien. You must really care about him."

She nods. "I do."

***

"I really messed up, Plagg." Adrien falls face first onto his bed. "I can't believe I thought Marinette liked me. Ladybug doesn't like me, so why would Marinette?"

"Cheer up, Adrien." Plagg tries to offer him some cheese. "Just one bite will make you feel better."

He turns his head away, disgusted. "I don't want cheese. I want Marinette."

Groaning, Plagg whines and pulls on Adrien's shirt, making him sit up. "I'm only telling you this because Tikki is not here to stop me."

"Tell me what?"

"MARINETTE LIKES YOU!" Plagg slaps Adrien's face. "You are so blind, Adrien. Marinette's always liked you. Ever since you gave her that dumb umbrella when you first met."

"But..." Adrien shakes his head. That didn't make sense. "What about what Marinette said in class? She didn't want anyone to see us kiss."

Plagg rubs his forehead. "Because she's nervous! You know how Marinette is."

"She really likes me?" Plagg nods and Adrien smiles. "Marinette likes me!"

"I said that already," Plagg mumbles, eating some cheese. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Adrien hops up and sits at his desk. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it much. If I try telling Marinette face to face, she'll just get flustered and fall over her words. Not that it isn't cute..." He sighs, happy.

"Ew, gross!" Plagg pretends to gag. "I hate that lovey dovey stuff."

"You're always talking about Tikki," Adrien says, raising an eyebrow at him. "Remember that one time you told me you liked Tikki more than cheese?"

"That was—" Plagg crosses his arms and turns away. "I'm taking a nap. Goodnight."

He shakes his head, laughing. "How am I supposed to tell Marinette? She only really talks to me when I'm Cat Noir."

"No!" Plagg immediately flies over. "No, no, no! You cannot visit Marinette as Cat Noir and confess your love to her."

"But that's when I see who she truly is, Plagg, as Cat Noir. I wish she wasn't so nervous around Adrien." Sighing, he leans his elbow on his desk, closing his eyes. "We can have a normal conversation. I'm really me when I'm Cat Noir and with Marinette. Besides, I wanted to see if she could fall in love with my alter ego. If Marinette only loves half of me, then it's not enough."

"You're not even supposed to know each other's identity!" Plagg defends. "It's your fault you found out Ladybug's. And visiting Marinette as Cat Noir could put her in danger. What if Hawkmoth found out and used her against you?"

Adrien shakes his head. "I wouldn't let that happen."

Plagg sighs. "I give up. Do what you want." He flies back over to his pillow.

His computer dings. Adrien checks his email. "Miss Bustier changed my grade?" He reads it, shocked. "Wow. She gave me full credit. But why?"

"Don't worry about it," Plagg says without opening his eyes. "Take the free grade."

"I wonder if Marinette had something to do with this." At the thought of Marinette doing something nice for him, he smiles. "I need to go somewhere to think. Plagg, claws out!"