Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

This was inspired by the quote "Do you know how radiant you look when you think that nobody is watching?" from the tumblr auideas. Specifically, their Never Book post on September 16, 2015.

Adrien had grown up constantly being told to take his appearance seriously. He knew exactly how to strike a pose and make sure to look flawless without seeming to try. That was one of the reasons why he was so dorky as Chat Noir. He could be a stray alley cat who didn't care what others thought he looked like. It was so much less work.

Ladybug, on the other hand, didn't have this sort of training. She was almost always putting up a front, and it showed. Especially when she was suppressing emotions - other than the love she (hopefully?) held for him. That she suppressed just fine, if it existed at all. But it wasn't when she was trying that she looked flawless, or at least strong. No, it was when she just let it all go. Well, almost all. She tried to never give away too many details of her life away, nor did she ever even seem to consider taking off the mask. But even when she didn't seem to be putting on a front, she was so awesome and confident.

There wasn't a moment when she didn't look to be some form of perfect, but it was when she didn't think he - or anyone else - was looking that she was truly radiant. She was just so cool, like an angel who always showed up when the world needed her, when he needed her. Given how much they joked (and oh how melodious her laugh was on the breeze) about her actually being 5000 years old, it wasn't too far off. He didn't deserve someone so wonderful, but he flirted anyways.

Marinette was a klutz, and she knew it. That was one of the things that caused her to be so surprised that she of all people - Mademoiselle Can't-Walk-Thirteen-Steps-Without-Tripping Dupain-Cheng - was chosen as a superhero. Then again, she had adjusted much more quickly than the others so there was always that. But still. Not to mention she couldn't string words into a coherent sentence to talk to Adrien. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why she kept her identity secret, and why people didn't suspect her to be... her. On one hand, it would be nice if the adoring populace would honor her in civilian form, but on the other hand what if they just stopped when they realized their hero was just a normal girl? It was selfish, but she didn't want to risk it. She didn't even want Chat to stop adoring her, even though she had told him countless times that she had no romantic feelings for him. If he was Adrien... but no, that was crazy.

Her mask was only one of the fronts that she put up. There were the other fronts. There was the "I'm so very calm" front and the "I'm strong and badass; I can totally handle this" front. There were the "I don't actually have a crush on you", "I'm happy" and "Nah, this doesn't hurt" fronts. But Adrien... he's so cool and confident that she doubts he ever puts on fronts.

Adrien... Adrien was flawless. Radient. Even when he was alone, he somehow managed to be perfect. She couldn't help but wonder how he did this. She didn't deserve someone so perfect, and yet she pined anyways.