#sacrificialpiccolo | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lnc2 · 6 years

Note

Adrienette 5 is meant to be if you ask me \(☆o☆)/

“It’s weird how we’ve been friends forso long but never went through that ‘crushing’ phase.” - Adrienette

A/N: This is a gift for @thenovelartist who is not only super sweet and stupid talented and ridiculously supportive but who inspired this with her delightfully absurd tumblr post.AO3

He knew.

How he knew was irrelevant when the fact of the matterwas that he did.

Or thought he did.

There was clearly some uncertainty inthe matter but it was insignificant to Marinette when it came down to thefacts:

1. Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir.

That alone was a brain wreck on athought train headed down a broken track. The moment thatrevelation had been dumped on her, literally, when the stupid cat tumbled ontoher mid-transformation through an open window was one she couldn’t soon forget.

No matter how much present awkwardnessmade her wish she could.

How she’d muddled through thatparticular conversation was a miracle worthy of her miraculous itself. Only Tikki’s good fortune could take her incoherent babbling andstupefied shock and turn it into something salvageable.

Namely, a third relationshipwith the blonde idiot boy that consisted of late night post-akuma Ladybuggushing and quiet confessions about his filial insecurities. A strangeamalgamation of the two most important boys in her life wore cat ears andplayed Ultimate Mecha Strike while talking about his most recent trip to Milan.

It was… dizzying to say the least.

Made all the more so by the fact that

2. Adrien Agreste absolutely knew she wasLadybug.

She didn’t know what tipped him offexactly – after all, she wasn’t the one tripping over civilians when shede-transformed– but there was no doubt that somewhere along the way he’d foundher out.

Marinette could even pinpoint it to theday– a Thursday. A night patrol. Three weeks back.

She’d swung up beside him on an oldchurch rooftop and he’d just

melted.

A cautious, lovesick six-foot somethingpuddle of goo who could no more whisper bonne nuit, milady than handle abaton.

She’d thought it excessive at the time,a little much even for her crushing kitten, only to catch Adrien giving her thesame look– soft, heart-soul, disbelieving adoration– when she’d turnedto him in physics to ask for his notes.

Marinette wanted to scream.

Especially when it became clear to herthat

3. Adrien Agreste did not know she knew heknew she was Ladybug.

And for some guardian-level mystickwami bullshit reason he seemed determined to keep that knowledge to himself.

A decision that meant Marinette wasconstantly walking on eggshells around her classmate and partner, parsing everyglance, every double entendre, every gesture to find out just whatthe hell he was playing at.

Things were… stressful… to say theleast.

Especially on the nights when her alleycat came tumbling through her skylight to spend the evening keening and sighingover Ladybug all the while watching her from beneath lowered lashes likehe was getting away with some great secret.

Every frustrated, incredulous blush aprize he was determined to steal away. His satisfied smirk covered by forlornsighs and terrible (and it was terrible) poetry about her eyes, herhair, her smile.

“I bet you two would get along great,Mari.” He’d murmured softly as she did her best not to combust from the sheerabsurdity of it all.

That goddamn, sneaking, thieving cat.

No amount of quelling looks or snarkyreplies could shame him.

Adrien Chat Noir Agreste was determinedto play his game, whatever it was, until the end and Marinette was too goddamncurious to call him out before she’d discovered his motive.

It snuck up on her like most things hedid.

She’d been exhausted.

Two mid-day akumas and a competitiondeadline meant that by the time she stripped and scrubbed and showered she waspractically sleepwalking. When she’d climbed up from her trap door,toothbrush in mouth as she tied up her damp hair into a bedtime bun, it washardly a surprise to find Adrien lounging on her chaise, an immovable lump.

“Do I need to get you a change ofaddress card?” She garbled around her toothpaste, before walking over to thesink in the corner to spit.

“Yes,” He grunted, turning his faceaway from the cushions so he could look at her. “Make it out to Hawkmothand tell him to kiss my leather-clad ass.”

“Hmm,” She mumbled, a tired smirkpulling at the edge of her lips. “I don’t know, Agreste. Wouldn’t Ladybugbe jealous?”

“Something tells me she wouldn’t mind,”He said, smiling.

Ugh.

Marinette was too tired to handle hisbullshit. Chat Noir could be sneaky on his own time– right now all shewanted to do was sleep.

Rolling back her shoulders, she headedtowards her ladder when Adrien reached out and snatched her wrist.

“Um,” He said, avoiding her questioninglook as he stared at his fingers wrapped around her skin. Marinettewatched, confused, as red crept up his neck and ears. “You don’t think she… would she?”

What?

“What?”

“N-nothing. Never mind.” He said,releasing her to run his hand through his hair. “It was stupid.”

If it was as she suspected and it wasan aborted attempt to fluster the hell out of her, Marinette couldn’t find itin her to disagree. Unfortunately her poor kitten looked so distraughtshe found herself unable to move away.

No rest for the righteous.

“I’ll make time for stupid,” She said,gesturing for Adrien to scootch over on the chaise.

He smiled and for once since this wholemess started he actually seemed nervous.

“It’s weird, right?” He said, hesitant. “That we’ve been… friends for so long.”

Marinette frowned. “Weird how?”

“Not like that,” He said, panicking ather puckered expression. “Not weird because you’re weird oranything. Because you’re not. Weird. You– You’re perfect! No– well not no, but–”

She mercifully cut him off with a tiredlaugh and Adrien didn’t even try to hide his sheepish grin. But it gave him thecourage to continue.

“I just meant… We’ve been friends forso long and we– we’ve never gone through that phase.”

“What phase?” She asked, eyes slippingshut as she leaned back and rested her head against his shoulder. Herkitten was having issues with words tonight. She might as well get comfortable.

“You know.” He said, his fingersplucking at her own. “That ‘crushing’ phase.”

The words hung in the air for a moment–long enough for Marinette to process just what exactly her connivingpartner was getting at– before her eyes snapped open. Slowly, she pulledback so she could properly face him.

His red cheeks were like a neon sign.

A dead, dead giveaway.

“Unbelievable,” She said, stunned. “That’s what you’ve been doing?”

“Wha–”

Marinette cut off his denial before itcould start.

“It’s been weeks.” She gestured,incredulous laugh building. “You’ve been torturing me for weeksand all because you wanted to know if I liked you?”

Adrien stilled, eyes guilty wide.

Then stupid did what stupid did best

and played dumb.

“I have no idea what you’re talkingabout, Marinette.”

Oooooh she could kill him.

“You’re a dumbass and a half, minou.”She said instead. Adrien’s blinked, stunned, and she rolled hereyes. “Drop the act, Agreste. Iknow you know.”

He shifted, nervous, and looked away. “Know… what?”

“I’m Ladybug.”

The not-really-confession was easierthan she’d ever thought it’d be. Then again there weren’t any stakes whenthe confessee already knew.

And yet

“Whaaaat,” Adrien said, voice too high,too exaggerated to be genuine. “That is brand new information!”

“I hate you so much right now.”

Adrien deflated, shoulders slumping.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

She huffed, irritation and affectionwarring within her. Ridiculous idiot boy cat.

“You’re a terrible actor, Chaton.” Shecould feel Adrien’s eyes on the side of her face.

“I’ve been in commercials,” Hesaid, indignant.

“Because running across rooftops is sucha stretch for you.”

He opened his mouth to argue beforesnapping it shut. There was no real way to argue with that.

Radiant, carefree, oblivious

Adrien.

“So… what gave me away?”

Marinette snorted.

What hadn’t given him away?

She was ready to tell him as much whenshe looked over to him and froze.

He was picking at a loose thread on thechaise’s seam. His smile was too stiff to be genuine, shoulders too rigidto be relaxed. Her kitten may be playing the cool cat but she wasn’t hispartner for nothing.

“If you really want to know,” She said,voice coming out softer than she’d intended. “It’s the way you were looking atme.”

Adrien’s bright eyes met hers andMarinette’s heart gave a tiny, traitorous flip. It had been a long time sinceshe’d seen him so… unsure.

Not fair.

“I always look at you.”

Really not fair.

“No you don’t– didn’t.” She said,shaking her head. “For all the years I tried to get you to see meI turn around one day and there you are. Seeing way more than I was reallycomfortable with. Chat eyes on display for the world.”

“I–” Adrien flushed as his voicecracked. “I do not have Chat eyes.”

The blatant lie was immediatelydisproved. Embarrassed as he was there was something so very earnestabout the way Chat had always looked at Ladybug. The way Adrienwas looking at her now.

It was enough to make a superheroineswoon.

Marinette shakily raised her hand andpressed his nose only for Adrien’s eyes to cross following her movement.

She smiled.

“Chat eyes.”

Green and large and wanting. Bright with hope and confusion and all the little secrets eyes sharedwhen lips stayed shut.

It was her turn to look away, heatflaring up her arms and chest like a sunburn.

Really, really not fair.

“So you knew this whole time?” Heasked, flopping back to lay beside her. “And you just let me make a foolof myself?”

“Honestly I just wanted to see how faryou would take it,” She shoved her elbow into his side. “Turns out prettyfar.”

“Marineeeeette,” He whined. “I said somuch embarassing stuff.”

Adrien’s head fell against hershoulder, his hair tickling underneath her chin. She laughed but didn’t try toshove him off.

“You did that to yourself.”

“I just wanted to know if you likedme.”

She practically choked on her laugh,sending her into a wild coughing fit that had Adrien patting uselessly at herside.

“You– you’re kidding me right?” Shefinally managed, eyes watery as she waved off his hand. “Pleasetell me you’re kidding.”

“Uh… no?” Registering her blatantdisbelief he rushed on. “I knew you liked someone but you’d neverreally let me in as Chat and as Adrien I knew a ton of people were alreadythrowing themselves at you.”

Marinette stared.

How was it possible they’d managed to hold offHawkmoth for so long when her partner was such an oblivious moron?

“I don’t know whether to laugh or tocry right now, Agreste. Wasn’t homeschool supposed to make you smart?”

“Wait–” He said, voice cracking. “So– so it was me?”

“Despite my better judgment yesyou dork.”

“But–” He was facing her fully now,body practically vibrating beside her. “Why didn’t you sayanything?

She threw up her hands, flailing. “I can’t believe you didn’t know!”

“HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?” Hesquawked, flailing right back.

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe the blushing,the stammering, your pictures plastered all over my goddamn wall–”

“You said it was because you likedfashion!” He said hotly.

Unbelievable.

“I kissed you, Adrien.”

“On the cheek!”

Marinette sighed, rubbing her foreheadto stave off the headache that was this conversation. “Do you go aroundkissing Nino’s cheek?”

“That’s not– but… but the Internet.”He sputtered, scandalized. How could he have missed this? “It said… you kissed me on the cheek, Marinette. I thoughtthat meant we were friends.”

“We’re French, Adrien. We’re not stupid.”

Or at least she wasn’t.

She was starting to have some seriousdoubts about her partner.

“What idiot have you been takinglessons from?”

“Pinterest!” He shouted, mortified. Hislady had liked him and he’d somehow missed it?

Marinette blinked, his franticconfession hanging in the air between them like a hangman’s noose to hisdignity.

And as there really was nothingfor it–

She laughed.

Gut-aching, chaise-shaking screechesthat resulted in her falling over the side and onto the floor. Adistraction that sobered her for a moment until she caught sight of Adrien’sdeer-headlight horrified red-cheeked pout and sent her back into another fit ofhysterics.

It was only when the hiccups startedthat she managed to calm down enough to reach out for him, grabbing his arm totug him down to the floor beside her, unable to keep stifle the occasionalgiggle.

“It wasn’t that funny,” He said,petulantly.

Marinette rolled her eyes but couldn’thold back her grin. “Yes it was.”

Adrien shifted beside her, glancing toand away with heated cheeks and nervous hands. Embarrassed as he was, hecouldn’t hide the tentatively hopeful smile threatening to break out.

Really, really, really not fair.

How could she not answer thequestion he wouldn’t ask?

Slowly, Marinette reached up to cup hisface, bringing him down enough so their gazes were level.

“But just so it’s clear, minou,” Shemurmured, watching his eyes dilate as she leaned forward to brush her lipsagainst his. “I like you.”

He whimpered as she pulled away, toolittle, too brief, too cute.

“Okay?”

Marinette tried to lean away only forAdrien’s hands to grip her upper arms. Her heart stuttered as his thumbsran circles over her skin.

“I don’t know,” He managed,crush-dazed. “I’m pretty dense, my lady. M-maybe you should show meagain?”

And because she was such a goodpartner

she did.

#the look before you reblog drabble series #miraculous ladybug #adrienette #post reveal pre relationship #thenovelartist #sacrificialpiccolo #this was supposed to be a joke #ladynoir #idk even know what this is but it exists now so take it #lnc2 writes

1K notes · View notes