AN: Finally, the end! Feel free to review if you liked and wanted a continuation!

Was ten times too excessive? Surely glancing behind his shoulder to grin at Marinette had some kind of numerical limit, right? But when the think about it, it was only ten times. Only when the teacher turned around! So sure, Marinette was starting to glare at him for turning around so much, but he couldn't help it! He had to see her! Ever since the day started, he had been following her basically the entire day. He felt like a puppy waiting for a treat- the treat being words along the lines of 'I am Ladybug'. Obviously she couldn't say it during school, but it was the thought that counted. For some reason, having the whole 'video game combo' joke was like the actual reveal itself, and everything felt so much more real.

Marinette was Ladybug. Ladybug was Marinette.

And so help him if that wasn't a good reason to constantly want to be with someone.

Unfortunately, Nino noticed Adrien all but fawning over her, and questioned him at the lockers when the school day ended.

"Come on, bro!" Nino harassed, poking a finger at Adrien, "Just ask her out already!"

"Dude, it's not that simple!" He hissed back, trying to keep voice down and punching Nino's arm. People could hear him! What if one of them told Marinette he wanted to ask her out?!

"Yes, it is!" Nino laughed, "Dude, ask her!"

"I can't just ask Marinette-"

"Ask me what?"

Adrien felt his blood turn to ice, the only thing keeping his stomach from dropping through tot the earth's core was Nino's jerk-face grin.

"No-Nothing!" Adrien answered quickly, smacking Nino's arm as hard as he could. Adrien was already scared to ask her out, and now it was Nino's fault that she heard him!

"Dude, now!" Nino prompted, pushing Adrien forward a little.

Adrien glared at Nino, both furious and terrified. Sure, the logical part of his brain told him Marinette would obviously say yes, and things would go over fine, but when logic and raw emotion fight, emotion always wins. And right now, Mr. Emotion was telling Adrien to be scared.

"Um, Marinette…" He sighed, shoving Nino out of the way for at least some privacy, "This weekend, if you're free, would you, y'know… Want to go out with me?"

He stared at his feet for a moment, too nervous to say it while actually looking her in the eye. But when he was met with silence for an answer, he glanced up. Was she actually going to say no?

He was answered by her ridiculous grin, and her quick nods. He felt relief rush through him, as well as a strange voice of "I told you so" coming from the logical part of him.

Neither of them were actually to make real sentences for a short while, but eventually they actually set up a place and time: They'd go to the movies, and then eat lunch together.

When the fateful date arrived- who knew a model could get so worried over how he looked- and Adrien made sure he wore his favorite hat. It was a typical black snapback, but under the visor was a large green pawprint. It was a typical fan item you can buy in any store, but it was his favorite Cat Noir merchandise because it almost felt sneaky. You'd have to look to see the pawprint, after all.

Marinette clearly was thinking in a similar way, wearing a homemade red-and-black bracelet. She was really cute, by the way. Like, really cute.

Adrien was so excited to actually go on a real life date with her, with the real life Marinette/Ladybug! And she was going on a date with him! And they were going to pick a movie and go sit and watch the movie and eat popcorn and maybe even hold hands! And then they'd go eat together! On a date! And then he could walk her home and maybe he'd even get a change to hug her! Or maybe, maybe if he was lucky, he'd even get to kiss her! Or maybe they'd-

Adrien's fantasies were quickly interrupted by a loud crash from the concession stands as an underappreciated worker started to grow into an all-too-familiar monster. Adrien was shocked for a moment, still bring pulled back into reality from his daydreams, but thankfully Marinette was fully lucid.

"U-Uh, we should leave so we don't get hurt!" She said, almost like an order, grabbing his wrist and leading him out of the theater. She seemed so focused that it surprised Adrien for a moment that she had forgotten which class she was in only a day before.

He saw her rush away, not seen by the scared crowd, which reminded him- you should get away, too.

He had been to this theater before when there was an akuma, and he knew there was this giant dumpster behind the building that he could transform behind.

But right as he rushed behind the dumpster and ducked down, he realized that a certain someone was there too.

"Adrien!"

"Marinette!"

For a moment, he was surprised. Just the sudden appearance shocked him, but then he remembered the facts that she was in fact Ladybug and needed to hide here too. This was a bit… Complicated. They both started to talk at the exact same time.

"Adrien, I need to tell you something-"

"Marinette, there's something you should know-"

They blinked, then shared a quick laugh, then stared into each other's eyes. Comradery, friendship, and familiarity. They spoke, this time together:

"I know."