Chat Noir wandered around the room, examining the drawings pinned up on the wall. Some, he noted, had water colour. Some were just sketches. Others had minimal colour. Most were more pop-art comic book style though. Those were just the ones that made the wall! The vast majority were scrapped and abandoned part way through. His bin was over flowing with paper. Chat realised, much to his horror, the vast majority contained Marinette. Some from way back before he'd even started the school. Nathaniel had loved her for longer than he'd known her.
That put him in an odd position.
He didn't want to lose her to this… artist… but he did want her to be happy. If she loved him, and he loved her, he couldn't stand between that.

"Yeah mum, let me put my art away first!"

Chat didn't have time to run. He didn't have time to react before the bedroom door opened and Nathaniel appeared. As mature as Adrien had been two seconds ago, he was burning with jealousy when he caught a glimpse of the sketches in his hand.

"C-chat Noir? What are you doing here?" Nathaniel asked, nervously.

"Just, admiring your work," Adrien ran a claw along the wall beside one of the pictures.

"careful!" Nathaniel gasped.

"I can do worse than that Nathaniel. I'm made for destruction. And I never lie. So you can believe me when I say if you dare hurt Marinette, I can hurt you worse,"

Adrien warned.

Nathaniel frowned. "Marinette? But-"

Chat's tail flicked with hatred and his words were becoming hissed at the end, "I don't know what she sees in you anyway."

"sees in me? No, you don't understand, she's not-"

Nathaniel began.

Chat cut him off, "don't play games. Don't hurt her. don't forget what will happen if you do."

Adrien picked up a drawing that was left on the table, with the plan to tear it in half to make his point. Nathaniel squeaked in horror. Then Adrien actually looked at the picture. This one wasn't just Marinette. It was all of them. she was there, sure, but so was Ayla. And Nino. And Rose and Juleka. Adrien himself was sitting in the front row. It was his first day. It had to be. Ayla and Marinette were sitting together, chatting, where chole usually sat, and chole was sat behind him, making googley eyes. Adrien felt a stab of guilt. Marinette had hated him them, and now they were friends. He couldn't ruin that.

Adrien raised his head. Nathaniel's eyes were fixed on the picture like a terrified rabbit.

"make her happy. That's what she deserves," he warned.

Nathaniel nodded urgently. Adrien dropped the picture and let it float to the floor. Nathaniel darted forward to snatch the picture. He held it to his chest until Adrien had left. Nathaniel was really shaken up. He phoned Marinette.

"he did what?!" she gasped.

"who did what?!" Tikki asked, curiously.

"Chat Noir-"

There was a tap at the glass window that lead to her balcony. She looked up to see the cat's cocky grin. She gave him an unimpressed look. Tikki dove under the duvet covers.

"I'll call you back."

She hung up, and beckoned him in. Adrien swung into her room, showing off slightly, as he did.

"Good day princess," he smirked.

"Nathaniel says you threatened him. what's your problem?" she demanded.

Adrien stood up, and dusted himself down sheepishly.

"oh he told you about that huh? I err…" his eyes flicked to the desk.

There was a row of stuffed dolls that he'd only seen once before. When the Puppeteer was in charge of them. his eyes were focused on the Evilstrator that laid, so close to the ladybug doll. He picked it up. Maybe she really did love Nathaniel. Marinette snatched the doll from him.

"Nathaniel works really hard on his drawings! I worked really hard on these! You're not going to destroy them!" she stated sharply.

Adrien straightened up in surprise. "Marinette, I wouldn't!"

"then why did you threaten it?" she demanded.

"I – I just – err…" Adrien bowed his head.

He had let his jealousy get the better of him, and now he was feeling guilty about it.

"he says he won't be my model tomorrow because he's worried about you turning up, and I don't have anyone to replace him! I don't even like Nathaniel in that way. Not that it's important but I like-" Marinette cut herself off.

Chat's ears flicked eagerly. His eyes watched her, greedily, desperate for her to finish that sentence.

"who?!" he demanded.

"does it matter? You'd just go over to them and threaten them, and then you'd get arrested for attacking one of the most protected boys in Paris out of jealously! Jealousy!" the anger had vanished from her voice as she tried not to giggle.

He felt a twinge of affection to hear her giggle, but it only made the guilt crush him a little more.

"sorry. I just don't want you to end up with someone you won't be happy with…" his finger curled around the tail of the little doll that looked like him, and moved it closer to Ladybug, until their hands were together.

"I don't know why you feel you need to protect me all of a sudden, but I'd rather you didn't. I have Ayla for that already," she said.

Adrien chuckled. That was true. If anyone dare try to intimidate Marinette, Ayla was there to stop them. to fight them. she was a true friend that one. Adrien straightened up.

"I promise I'll never do anything that stupid again. I just want you to be happy," he said seriously. Although he added in his head, with me.

Marinette sighed and looked up at the poster of Adrien on her wall. More to herself than him, she muttered. "Then find a way to get Adrien to notice me."

Adrien frowned in confusion. He looked up at the poster hanging above her bed. As his eyes flicked from poster to poster to framed picture of him, his smile widened.

"you like me?" he muttered.

"what?" she asked.

"you like Adrien?" he repeated, eagerly.

Under the bed covers Tikki rolled her eyes. How could Plagg had ended up with such an idiot? Marinette's eyes flicked around the room as a ball of anxiety filled her chest.

"what?! No – I-" Marinette struggled to find an excuse.

She wasn't never great at thinking on her feet. Adrien's smile grew as she made herself flustered again. She was adorable. More than that. She was gorgeous. Adrien couldn't hold it back anymore. He grabbed her by the arm, pulled her close, and kissed her. Marinette squealed in alarm for a moment. Adrien closed his eyes to take in the moment.
He finally had his ladybug! He finally had his lady as his own and no one else could change that. He savoured the lingering moment as much as he possibly could.
The way she eased into him as she realised what was happening. The way her arm snake up around his neck, pulling him closer. He opened one eye to sneak a peek at her feet. He smiled through the kiss. She had to go on her tiptoes to reach him, and he was bending down anyway! suddenly, she squeaked and pushed him away urgently. Adrien watched in surprise as she turned bright pink and leapt back away from him.

"no! n-n-no, no, no! no! I can't kiss you! I love Adrien, what would he say if he found out?! I can't believe this, I'm so stupid!" she squealed.

Adrien laughed, and tried to catch her hand as she paced back and forth, panicking.

"hey, hey, hey, calm down! Look at me," he insisted.

Reluctantly Marinette turned to face him. He took her hands in each of his, and smiled at her warmly. He couldn't stop himself from smiling at her.

"Plagg, time to transform," he said.

Marinette's stomach dropped and her eyes bulged. "No - wait!"

There was a flash that engulfed his whole body. Marinette closed her eyes tightly. Plagg bounced against the wall, and darted under the bed covers where Tikki was hiding.

"Plagg!" She gasped in delight.

Her little wings buzzed against him excitedly as she leapt over him, trying to get a good enough hold to hug him. Laughing, Plagg just wrapped his arms around her, and pulled him in close to nuzzle his head against hers. They hadn't seen each other since they were all in the box. Now they were back together they were going to make the most of it.

"Took long enough!" Tikki teased.

"What?! Adrien figured it out! Marinette still hasn't!" Plagg argued.

"Open your eyes," they heard Adrian say.

Plagg lifted the duvet so that he and Tikki could sit together and watch their plan come to conclusion.

"Open your eyes my lady," he whispered.

She shook her head stubbornly and closed her eyes tighter. "No one can know who you are. No one."

Adrien gave her an affectionate smile, but he couldn't help feeling a little frustrated that she wouldn't look at him. He held her hand and brought her close enough to rest his forehead on hers. She bowed her head. He placed a finger on her chin to raise her head.

"Please... trust me..." he whispered.

Marinette felt her chest tighten. She did trust Chat. She had to. They were made for each other. Two halves of a whole. She had to trust him. Slowly, hesitantly, she opened her eyes. Her eyes flicked up to his face. He grinned. She gasped.

"Adrien?" She breathed.

"Hello my lady," he smiled back.

His eyes kept flicking back down to her lips, waiting for her to let him kiss her again. Marinette's mind was a whirl. Full of questions. Most of her was screaming that she had finally kissed the boy of her dreams, but the rest of her was screaming because she had already done it once before.
He was so close still. His soft fringe brushed against hers. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. His hand was against hers. Holding it like treasure. She glanced down at his lips.

So close.

So kissable.

She latched her arms around his neck, running her fingers through the hair on the back of his head. She pulled him down into another kiss. Adrien filled with a warm glow of delight so strong he couldn't hold it in. It came out as a long purr.
His purring tickled her slightly, and she ended up giggling instead of concentrating on kissing.

She pulled away to rest her forehead against his again. "How can you make that noise when I can barely breath?!"

His eyes sparkled as he moved his hand down to her lower back. "Are you saying I leave you breathless?"

"You always did!" She laughed.

He grinned and pulled her back to him, back to the kiss. Both were completely filled with an indescribable feeling of complete bliss. Under the bed covers, Tikki was squealing with delight. Plagg beamed a smile bigger than he ever had before.

Their plan had worked.

They could be together again now.

It was about time!