Miraculous Ladybug, "The Tell-Tale Kiss" Ch. 2

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Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug & Chat Noir
Title: The Tell-Tale Kiss
Chapter Title: Two - The Hunt Begins
Pairing/Characters: Marinette (Ladybug), Adrien (Chat Noir), Tikki, Plagg, Marinette/Adrien
Word Count: (for this chapter) 
Genre: Humor/Romance
Rating: T
Spoilers: Up to Season 2 (for now)

Notes: This is a new multi-chapter fic though it won't be too long. I've written a few chapters and have the rest outlined. For now, this first chapter is written for my "major" prompt for the Summer Mini Challenge. Characters are aged up about a few years, around 16 years old. Canon divergent from Season 2/3.

Notes for this Chapter:  I'm going to my 20 year high school reunion in a month, so that'll give you an indication on what it's like for me to write from the perspective of teenagers. Ah, to be that young again. Thanks again for all the story alerts, favorites and comments!

Other Links: FFnet | AO3

Summary: Adrien has had enough. If Ladybug won't accept him as Chat Noir, well, then maybe she'll say yes to Paris's top male model? When she gives her answer, he doesn't expect what comes next.

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Marinette was practically vibrating when she got home and released her transformation of Ladybug. She grabbed one of her pillows and screamed into it happily. She kicked her legs into the air and laughed, sighing and licking her lips.

“I kissed Adrien! I talked to Adrien…Without tripping over my words and looking like an idiot!” Her smile faded slightly and her brow furrowed. “But as Ladybug.”

“Marinette you are Ladybug, so what’s the problem? He confessed to you,” Tikki explained, and her kwami looked delighted.

“I know that. But he doesn’t know me as Marinette, not yet,” Marinette said. She met Tikki’s face with concern. “I know that I shouldn’t reveal my secret, but what if he… found it out? I mean, it’s not something I can control if he learns my identity all on his own.”

Tikki looked worried but there was something else she obviously wasn’t saying. “I’ll support your decision with Adrien, of course, but Marinette, remember to think things through. You don’t want to put Adrien in danger or make him a target for Hawkmoth.”

“Yes, there’s that, Tikki, but I can protect him,” Marinette stated confidently, but her kwami’s concern didn’t waver from her expression. “But you’re right. It would be better if he just started liking me as Marinette. Going out with him as Ladybug would just be too complicated...” Though she did wonder if she could date him as a superhero. She’d certainly get to be with him, at least. Honestly, she was still torn on the idea, so she didn’t make a decision just yet.

Marinette let out a languid sigh. “If I could only get him to see me and like me as Marinette without revealing that I’m Ladybug too. It just seems impossible.”

“It’s a little late now, Marinette. You already challenged him to find you,” Tikki said, and she shook her head. “I don’t know how he’s going to fall in love with Marinette without finding out you’re Ladybug.”

Marinette sighed. “I know, and it’s not like I can still talk to him without sounding like a moron either.”

“Well…you’ve gotten better lately, and you already accepted him when he confessed to you,” Tikki explained. “Maybe this means you can relax a little around him? I mean what do you have to be nervous about now?”

“Oh, I have reasons. The main one is if he doesn’t like me when he finds out my identity. He’s only ever wanted me as a friend,” she grumbled. “He’s made that crystal clear as long as I’ve known him.”

Tikki sighed heavily. “Yes, that’s true, but he loves Ladybug, and that’s you, and you’re his good friend too. I’m sure your identity won’t shock him as much as you think. He may even love you more…”

Tikki’s words hardly consoled her, and she stared at her ceiling with a pout as she hugged her pillow and sighed. Even though she kissed Adrien and he confessed to her as Ladybug, she still was unsure about what had transpired from Adrien’s confession. She should be over the moon, and she was excited, but now she wondered if she just made it more complicated. She couldn’t help it. When Adrien poured his heart out to her, she got lost in the moment. There was no way on earth that she’d reject him. 

“I say… let things run their course. It’ll work out. I have a feeling this is meant to be,” Tikki said cheerfully. Marinette smiled, hoping her encouraging words were true, and feeling more confidence than ever before with the events of the day. She almost wished Ayla had been around to snap a picture of Ladybug kissing Adrien, so she could send it to Lila and Chloe. She held back a chuckle as she imagined their horrified faces.

Then Tikki said, “Now, do you have any more of those butterscotch cookies your dad made? I’ve been thinking about them for a couple of hours now.”

Marinette laughed. “Sure, Tikki.” Marinette rose from her bed and headed down the kitchen. She touched her fingers to her lips for probably the hundredth millionth time. She still felt the warmth of his breath, and when she thought of that moment, goosebumps appeared on her arms. 

*

Adrien couldn’t sleep last night, but he came to school surprisingly awake and running on full adrenaline and pure happiness.

Ladybug actually loved him! He still couldn’t get the concept wrapped around his mind but it was true. His heart swelled with her acceptance of him, and he replayed the moment of her acceptance over and over in his head. 

And that kiss! It was quick, just a small one, but it was more than he could ever dream of. He definitely hoped for more kisses, but he had another dilemma to solve. She had said she knew him in real life? True, it could be anyone knowing how many fans he had, and basically everyone in Paris knew who he was. 

But logically, wouldn’t she interact with him enough to fall in love with him? She wouldn’t be that shallow to fall for his celebrity image. He would never believe that of Ladybug.

So who was she?

Curiosity was gnawing at him, and he would make it his personal mission to find out who she was. He knew that Ladybug would never reveal her identity outright to him; she hadn’t even done that for Chat Noir, but if he found her out on his own, where was the harm in that?

It’s bound to happen anyway, he thought. He was Chat Noir, after all. Despite the fact that Ladybug was adamant about keeping her identity a secret, Plagg had revealed that Ladybug and Chat Noir would usually learn each other’s identities with the past handlers. He hadn’t intended to tell Adrien that much, so he’d bribed the kwami was some stinky, expensive cheese. And lots of it.

His stress faded a little knowing that, and the only thing left for him to do was to solve this mystery and find out just who Ladybug was. He’d start at the more logical point of interest: his school.

Adrien rose from his bed and began his day. His thoughts lingered, and his excitement to start looking for his Lady intensified the more the day went on.

*

At school, Adrien was not used to being so hyper aware of the people around him. Normally, he kept his attention to his friends, his studies, his bodyguard’s schedule and the potential for akuma attacks. Now his attention settled a little longer on his female classmates as he studied them, looking for any sign that one of them could be Ladybug.

He came to the front entrance of school and saw familiar and unfamiliar people lingering around the steps, the door, and the school lawn. His gaze swept around the students, awestruck that one of these people could be his Ladybug, and he was desperate to find her.

A hand clapped him on his shoulder and he was brought out of his intense thoughts. 

“Hey bro, what’cha looking for?” Nino asked, and Adrien relaxed for a minute when his best friend gave him a quick hug. “Or…” His friend said suggestively. “Who are you looking for?”

Adrien blushed. “Uh, no one, I was just…”

Nino laughed at his stammering. “Dude, you are spacing out, Marinette-style!” 

Adrien laughed at the reference. “What about Marinette?” asked another voice behind them. They turned around and Ayla was watching them with her head tilted in curiosity, looking amused that she’d caught them talking about her friend. Marinette was usually with her, but today Ayla approached them alone. 

Adrien smiled to himself. Marinette was probably running late…

“Ah, nothing really,” Nino said, scratching the back of his head. “Adrien here was spacing out when I came, just like a certain someone we all know.” He turned to Ayla and leaned over to kiss her cheek. His attention was entirely on her, and Adrien watched them get lost in their own world, eyes locking onto each other. “Hey babe.”

“Hey, goofball,” she said, bopping his nose. Her tone was different, almost sultry, as she spoke to her boyfriend. “We still going to that movie tonight?”

Nino snickered. “It’s on. Got the seats farthest in the back of the theater again.”

She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on his lips, almost purring. “Good boy.”

Adrien smiled at them. Watching his friends’ affections was enduring, and though they never made him feel like a third wheel, he did feel some envy that he didn’t have that kind of experience with a girl. 

Yet. 

He knew that soon, once he found out who Ladybug was, he wouldn’t envy Nino and Ayla anymore. He let out a content sigh, and was suddenly distracted by a figure rushing toward them. 

“I’m not late! I’m not too late!” Marinette zoomed across the campus, looking flushed and out of breath. Her bluebell eyes widened and her cheeks puffed from exertion. He watched her with some amusement, and Ayla called out to her.

“You’re safe, girl! We have ten minutes,” Ayla said. Marinette stopped, gaped like her brain was paused, and then dropped her shoulders in relief, letting out a long breath.

“Oh, thank God,” she said through heavy puffs. She clutched her chest, and Adrien noticed her pigtails looked a bit off-centered. When she finally caught her breath, she looked up at them and grinned. She met his amused stare with a wink and then spoke to all of them with a chipper, “Morning!” 

Ayla laughed at her, releasing her hold on Nino to meet her friend and then link arms with her. “Second day in a row and you’re a mess! What has got you up late at night,” she asked, teasing Marinette. A blush painted the dark haired girl’s cheeks. Other than stuttering and avoiding the question, Marinette gave her girlfriend a guilty look. 

“Uh, sewing, thinking, baking, the usual,” she said. As the four of them walked together inside the school, Marinette fished something out of her bag. It was a white cardboard box that they all recognized with glee. “Also, butterscotch cookies! Mom and Dad made extra, and for some reason they sold really hot at first, but then, I think they went overboard.” 

Nino scooped up about five cookies, and Adrien barely got a hand into the box before grabbing a couple himself. Ayla glared at them both and then grabbed one and took a satisfying bite. 

“I’m surprised that you are willing to share cookies, knowing your cookie eating habits, Marinette,” she said, moaning from the sugary taste.

“Haha, you’re funny,” she said. “Like I said, we had extra.”

“Thanks, Marinette!” Nino said, and she wondered where those five cookies went so fast because he was diving back into the box to take one of the last two.

When it was plain that there was one cookie left, they all stopped and looked at each other. Adrien reached for it but Ayla snatched it for herself. She gave him a victorious grin. Adrien deflated, realizing that these cookies were his breakfast today. He’d been so distracted by his thoughts of finding out Ladybug’s identity that he’d forgotten to eat the food prepared for him by his chefs. The food was probably still sitting in his bedroom untouched.

Suddenly, he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He turned to Marinette’s bright face. “No worries. I can bring you some more at lunch time.”

He looked at her quizzically before smiling. She didn’t stutter. She spoke to him normally and made eye contact. She still seemed a little timid, and when she noticed his hesitation, she snatched her hand away and her entire face turned red. 

“Thanks,” Adrien said, giving her a megawatt smile. She giggled nervously and stepped back, wobbled, and seemed like she was going to fall over. She cleared her throat as she righted herself, and then she stepped ahead of him without looking back. Alya and Nino followed behind her, and Adrien watched for a moment as his friends went inside the building. Adrien’s attention settled on the back of Marinette for a bit longer, his eyes locked on the back of her head with her trademark pigtails and the slender slope of her shoulders. The first warning bell rang, and Adrien was pulled out of his daze and then rushed to catch up with them.

They headed to class and found their respective seats. Adrien was still bummed about not getting another cookie, but Marinette’s kind smile and touch on his shoulder left him wanting. His thoughts about his good friend started to roll over in his head, and while all of the other students in his class chatted amongst themselves, Adrien began to focus on Marinette. He heard her voice as she said something to Alya, Nino made a joke and then her lovely laughter filled his ears. 

Sweet, shy Marinette. She was always thoughtful of others, passionate about her work and her friends, and she was always supportive of him no matter what. Adrien rested his chin on his hands as he leaned his elbows on the desk. Ms. Bustier drew everyone’s attention as she began the class, and Adrien couldn’t deter his thoughts away on his sweet, clumsy friend. 

He blew out a breath, remembering to breathe. Marinette? Could she be…? “No way…” he breathed to himself. 

Adrien felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to Nino, who looked at him with concern. He mouthed the words, “You okay?” and Adrien nodded, turning his attention back to the front even though his brain was elsewhere.

He’d have to investigate this further. 

Before they could begin their lessons for the day, their classroom rocked from a loud, thunderous crash from outside. Then, the whole building rumbled, and someone yelled “Earthquake!” 

Adrien narrowed his eyes and jumped up in his seat. He looked around his class as everyone freaked out and bustled around, and Ms. Bustier tried to calm everyone down. When he turned back to Ayla and Nino, he realized something was off. 

Marinette was gone.

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