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their-destinys-writer · 1 year

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The Trials of Confessing - Chapter 1

Rated: Teen

Chapters: 1/5

Ao3 / Wattpad

For additional content and behind the scenes, support me on Patreon. I also take Ko-fi.

A/N: This little story was posted in my Patreon a while ago. Since I started posting a new story there, I thought I’d finally bring this here. If you can’t wait to read the remaining chapters, you can read the full story on Patreon right now! As for the timeline of this story, this takes place right after Oblivio.

Chapter 1

“I just don’t get it,” Adrien said for the hundredth time since he got home.

He had already stared at the picture of him and Ladybug kissing for about two hours, and for the life of him still could not figure out what he did right during their amnesia period. What did memory-less Adrien do right? How did he charm her? Had his personality even been the same? Or had it been a fluke?

No, they both looked too happy for it to have been a fluke. They had obviously cared for each other during that time. The hand holding proved that. So, again: What. Did. He. Do?!

And his head started hurting.

“Uuugh.” He banged his head against the desk, worsening the dull pain. “I,” thunk, “don’t,” thunk, “get,” thunk, “it.”

Thunk.

Plagg groaned. “I get it. You don’t get it. Can’t you just sleep on it?”

“I don’t want to sleep on it!” Adrien whined. “I need to figure out what I did right.”

“What guarantee is there that whatever you did will work again? It’s not like she had the memories to remember she hates your puns.”

“Or what if I did pun, but this time it worked, because she didn’t know me already? What if I did what I usually did, but lack of baggage is what charmed her?”

“You’re such a drama queen,” Plagg complained. “I don’t get why you’re getting so worked up over it. You don’t even know if it was something you did.”

Adrien was about to retort but paused instead, slightly lifting his head.

Plagg… had a point. Any number of things could have happened for them to end up kissing like that. And yet, they managed to beat the akuma, possibly meaning that their personalities didn’t change much. And there was one thing he knew Ladybug wasn’t: fickle.

Taking that in consideration, the chances that he did something he wouldn’t have done as Chat Noir were probably slim. So something else must have been in play. Something both of them could relate to, that made them think they were an item.

Something like proof that they knew each other.

“Plagg,” Adrien gasped, grabbing the little cat and hugging him to his face. “You are a genius!”

“What?! What I do?” Plagg said, as he struggled against the boy’s sudden affections.

“If Ladybug and I were able to defeat the akuma without our memories, then maybe our personalities didn’t change after we got hit,” he explained.

“Your point?”

“It would take a whole lot for Ladybug to decide that I’m important to her,” he continued. “The only way she could think we are important to each other is if we somehow know each other. That maybe we found each other in our phones.”

“Wasn’t your phone dead when you got back to the bus?”

“Yes. Meaning I must’ve used it during that time. We must’ve had each other’s phone numbers, or pictures together.”

“Or she simply had one of your bagillion pictures as a wallpaper and is just a fan.”

Adrien shook his head. “I doubt it. Ladybug has expressed that she’s in love with someone. I doubt she would have a picture of me as her wallpaper if she’s in love—” He stopped suddenly. His eyes rounded. “WHAT IF SHE’S IN LOVE WITH ME?!”

He let go of Plagg and grabbed his hair instead.

“Even that’s a stretch, if you ask me,” said the small god, brushing his whiskers straight.

“But think about it!” Adrien insisted. “Ladybug is already in love. With someone from her civilian life. It would make sense it’s someone she knows well enough to have pictures with. And yet, when we lost our memories, she kissed me. And not just any kiss, either.” He turned towards the picture on his computer screen. “That looks nothing like the kiss she gave me during Dark Cupid. I can tell we’re very in love there. The only way she could’ve kissed me like that is if she thought I was truly important to her. Something has to have made her believe that.”

“How can you be sure she didn’t just find you cute?”

Adrien sighed. “As much as I’d like to say that she couldn’t resist my feline charms… I think it takes more than looks to really make an impression on Ladybug.”

“If you say so. Either way, even if you’re right, I doubt that would matter to Ladybug. The baggage is back, so who cares!”

“Actually,” Adrien started, eyes squinting, “she might agree.”

“Wait. Don’t—”

“Plagg, transform me!”

* * *

Ladybug was skeptical. And if she was being honest, a little afraid. Afraid Chat Noir had only called her to brag about how he wooed her that day. Or to insist once again that they belong together. Nevertheless, she liked to think Chat Noir wouldn’t waste her time like that, which was why she found herself swinging towards one of their many meeting places, on top of an apartment building. As she landed behind his dark figure, she took a deep breath and spoke.

“We didn’t have patrol scheduled for today.”

“You came!” Chat Noir said, turning and standing up.

“It sounded important,” Ladybug responded, as she placed the yo-yo on her hip. “Everything okay?”

“Um, depends?” Ladybug tilted her head. “It’s about today’s kiss.”

The heroine deflated. “Chat, I told you, I’m not in love with you—”

“No, I know what you said,” he rushed to say. “And I think you’re right… And wrong.”

“Okaaay?” Ladybug frowned at the unexpected turn. “I don’t get it. Am I wrong, or right?”

Chat Noir gestured for them to sit down. Ladybug did as asked, in hopes this would be a proper conversation of the boy’s constant advances. If she was being honest, her patience was starting to wear thin, especially with his behavior when they saw the picture after Oblivio.

“So,” Chat Noir started, “I think I figured out how the kiss happened. The most… logical way it could’ve happened.” He paused, as if waiting for a response. But Ladybug remained expectant, so he continued. “I think there’s a good chance that the boy you’re in love with is civilian me.”

There was silence. Ladybug watched him, bewildered. She got the urge to laugh, but quickly swallowed it, knowing it could potentially hurt his feelings.

“W-What makes you say that?” she asked instead.

“Because, I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon, and I realized you would never kiss me unless you were given a really good reason to.”

Ladybug blinked. “Um, wow. Uh… That’s actually right. But we weren’t ourselves then. How would you know if our personalities remained?”

“Because we beat the akuma,” Chat Noir responded. “It takes a lot of wit and creativity to beat an akuma, and the fact that we did it makes me think that our personalities didn’t change that much. I…I don’t think I wooed you like I thought at first. I think something happened that made us think we’re important to each other.”

“Something like what?”

“Like finding out that we know each other as civilians. And, maybe… my civilian identity is the boy you love?”

There was a pause. Ladybug’s eyes grew in size as she processed what he just implied. This time, she was unable to contain it: a loud cackle ripped from her lungs, her hands on her sides. Like she had heard the funniest joke of the year. Meanwhile, Chat Noir’s face contorted into an offended pout.

“Jeez, I didn’t know the idea was so hilarious.”

“I’m sorry!” Ladybug wheezed. “It’s just that the idea of you and the boy I’m in love with being the same is insane. You two are so different!”

“I’ll have you know that the way I act as civilian me can often be very different from superhero me.”

“Re-Really?” Ladybug’s laughter started dying down.

“Yeah. You have no idea what I have to be when I take off the mask.”

“You’re right, I don’t. I’m sorry. It’s just very unbelievable to me. And very convenient to you.”

“You really don’t think I can be the same boy?”

“Well—” Ladybug was about to say ‘no,’ but was immediately reminded of that time Alya compared Adrien with Chat Noir. Or how Adrien was the person Claire Nightingale chose to play Chat Noir in her music video for their similarities.

“Uh, Ladybug? Are you okay? You look kinda pale.”

“HUH?!” she yelped at the sound of her partner’s voice. “I’m fine! I’m, I’m… I’m not sure.”

“You think I might be right?!” Chat Noir squeaked, seeming surprised to have convinced her.

“I don’t know!” Ladybug attempted to clear up. “But, you actually have a point. I wouldn’t have kissed you for your looks alone. Something had to convince me, so… Oh gosh, you might be on to something.”

“I can’t believe you agree!”

“Chat Noir, I know you tend to be the muscle in fights, but you’re not an idiot.”

“I can’t believe I might be the boy you like!”

“Okay, okay, let’s say you’re right,” Ladybug said, attempting to regain control of the conversation. “What do we even do with that information? We’re not supposed to tell each other who we are. And if we’re wrong, we’d reveal ourselves to total strangers and possibly hurt our friendship.”

“Hmm.” Chat Noir placed a hand on his chin. He then snapped his fingers. “I have an idea!”

“Do I want to hear this?” Ladybug groaned.

Chat Noir gave her a pleading look, so she gestured him to say his piece.

“What if you confess to the guy you’re in love with?” Ladybug tilted her head. He continued. “Since I’ll know you’ll be confessing, I’ll know that whatever girl comes to me tomorrow, or whatever day we pick, will be you. If you’re so sure that I’m not the guy you’re in love with, then if you confess to him, it wouldn’t be me. But if it is…”

“Are you sure you want to take that risk?” Ladybug asked, worriedly. “What if it’s not you? You’re basically giving me your blessing to be with someone else.”

“I’m sure I’m right,” he said confidently. “I don’t have to worry about you ending up with some other guy, when I know I’m right.”

Ladybug shook her head. “I’m still not fully convinced… But,” she bit her lip, “I do like the idea of finally confessing. Even if he turns me down.”

“Great! So tomorrow, confess your love, and we can figure out this whole thing!”

“Wait! We need a plan.”

“Why? We already have it.”

“What if someone else confesses before I do?” she pointed out. “If you’re right, but someone else beats me to it, you’d end up thinking I’m someone else.”

“Hmm. You make a good point.” Chat Noir pondered. “I did get confessed to at least three times in the last month.”

“Sure you did,” Ladybug teased.

“I’ll have you know I am much more popular underneath the mask than you think.”

Ladybug giggled. “I don’t doubt it. I’m sure you’re real smooth in school. I can imagine you flirting with girls in a leather jacket and sunglasses.”

“Huh.” Chat Noir stroke his chin. “I should try out the leathery bad-boy look. I do rock this suit pretty well.”

Ladybug laughed at his antics. She was glad to always be able to count on his witty remarks. Never easily embarrassed, the kitty cat.

Chat Noir snapped his fingers. “I got it. Wear green ribbons on your hair for your confession.”

“If only half my school didn’t wear them,” Ladybug said. “There’s a Chat Noir fan club that wears them on occasion. And the last thing I wanna look like while I confess to the boy I love is like a fan of another boy. If he turns out to not be you.”

“Alright. Buy him a gift then.”

“Any girl could bring something along with her confession.”

“Something unique then.”

“Hmm.”

Ladybug thought for a moment, until an idea popped up. She asked Chat Noir to wait a moment for her and attached her yo-yo to the nearest chimney. She lowered herself enough to reach a window where there was a middle-aged man working on a laptop on his desk. She lightly knocked on the glass, hoping to not startle the man, yet failing anyway, from what she could tell from how his computer moved several inches away from him.

Hoping to come off friendly, Ladybug waved at him. The man hastily opened the window.

“Woah, Ladybug! Knocking on my building!”

“Good evening, sir! Do you mind if I could have a piece of paper and borrow a pen?”

“Oh, of course!” the man said. An array of papers flew around the desk, right before he presented the heroine with what she asked. “You can keep the pen. I’ve got tons.”

Ladybug thanked him and bid him goodbye before rising back up to the rooftop. She sat down and started scribbling on the piece of paper. She stopped, tapping her lips with the end of the pen.

“Can I borrow your hand?” she asked.

Chat Noir lifted both his hands. Ladybug took the one with the ring and pulled it under her arm, away from view. She could feel Chat Noir hovering behind her, moving from one shoulder to the other. Like the curious cat that he was. When finished, she broke the paper in two and pressed them against her chest while she turned back to her partner.

“Is that a love letter?” Chat Noir purred.

Ladybug squinted. “No. It’s a design.”

She turned the papers around, revealing a simple shape of a ladybug in the middle of the trace of his ring.

“I will make his favorite pastry with a unique packaging. I’ll use green and black, and on a corner of it, I will place this design.”

Chat Noir blinked. “Wow,” he breathed. “M’Lady, I knew you were smart, but had no idea you could also design so well.”

“There are many things you don’t know about me, Chaton.”

“Or so you think,” he teased, leaning towards her.

“Eh, don’t get ahead of yourself,” Ladybug retorted, placing a finger on the tip of his nose and pushing him away. “I still think you’re wrong.”

“And I think I’m right.”

Ladybug giggled, but became thoughtful almost immediately.

“If you’re right, what would that mean for us?” She pondered. “We would be revealing our identities against Master Fu’s wishes… Oh no, this is a terrible idea!”

“Well… um, I guess I didn’t think about that,” Chat Noir mumbled. “We don’t have to. Maybe wait until after we beat Hawkmoth.”

“But if I do that, the boy I love might end up with someone else and I might never get the chance to tell him how I feel!”

“Then confess.”

“But if I confess and you’re right, we’d be breaking the one rule Master Fu gave us. What will happen then?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Chat Noir determined. Ladybug pressed her lips together. “Sometimes, some risks are worth taking. And we don’t know how long it’ll take us to beat Hawkmoth. Would you wait another year or two to confess your love to someone?”

Ladybug took a deep breath. “I don’t want to. And I’m so tired of that rule too…”

“You are?”

“I always have,” she admitted. “But duty has always come first.”

“But now?” Chat Noir asked quietly.

Ladybug glanced at him. “But now, I feel like asking for forgiveness instead of permission. Besides, you could still be wrong.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Or maybe not. But I’d like to find out.”

“Honestly, I’m curious, too.”

“Welp, whatever happens,” Chat Noir grabbed the blue pen and one of the papers from her hands, “a little something to remember me by. Just in case.”

Ladybug watched as he drew a cartoon cat face next to the design she created. He then proceeded to hand it back. Though, he seemed to have forgotten how to hold a pen while wearing claws.

“You poked a hole in the pen!” she gasped, looking at the newly-made wound on the cheap pen.

“Oops,” Chat Noir chuckled. “Hazards of my sharp grip.”

“Chat—”

“Sorry.”

Nevertheless, Ladybug laughed as she shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said. “Another something to remember you by, right?”

“I guess it is,” he chuckled.

* * *

Adrien had a hard time hiding his excitement the next morning. With everything he did, a grin was plastered on his face. He tried concentrating on what he was doing, but a thought of a mysterious girl walking up to him with a delicious macaron kept sneaking into his mind. Making him smile like a fool by himself.

By the time he got to school, he tried controlling his features. With little success. As he met up with Nino, the boy stared weirdly at him. As they got to the lockers, Nino asked: “Why do you keep smiling like that?”

“It’s nothing,” Adrien shook off.

Right before their first class started, he asked again: “You’re still smiling. What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Adrien insisted.

By the time they got out of the class and went back to the lockers, Nino seemed to have had enough.

“Dude, seriously, you’re creeping me out,” he insisted, as he slammed his locker close. “What is going on?”

“Okay, fine,” Adrien relented. “What’s happening is that I’m in love.”

“Kagami?”

“No, someone else,” Adrien exhaled wistfully. “This girl… She’s brave, sweet, funny, just all around wonderful. She’s the greatest girl I’ve ever met and she’s gonna confess her love for me today.”

“Wait, what? Hold up, rewind.” Nino made a gesture imitating the word with his hands. “Why is this the first I ever hear about this girl?”

“Well, we don’t know each other in person,” Adrien cringed, scratching the back of his head. “I don’t even know what she really looks like. But she told me she’s confessing and I cannot wait to finally meet her in person.”

“Does she have a name, at least?”

“Uuuh, not yet,” Adrien admitted. “We only know each other by nicknames. It’s kind of a long story. But the point is that some girl is gonna confess her undying love for me, and I’m finally gonna be with the girl of my dreams.”

Adrien gazed starry-eyed into the distance, as he imagined a faceless girl in red with black polka-dots lovingly saying the three words he longed for.

“Wow,” Nino whispered. “You really got it bad for this girl.” He took a deep breath. “Welp, I’m really happy for you, dude. Whoever this girl is, I hope she’s everything you hope for.”

“Thanks,” Adrien sighed, closing his locker and starting his way to their next class. “Gotta admit, though, I’m a little nervous.”

“That’s a first!” Nino laughed. “I remember you were the one who was helping me when I liked Marinette.”

“All that, for you to end up with Alya,” Adrien teased.

“What can I say, love comes with whom you least expect it,” Nino said with a wistful sigh. Yet when he spoke again, his tone became more serious. “I have to ask, though, how do you know that this girl is really in love with you, and is not just a fan?”

“I know her,” Adrien responded. “I know she’s not the kind of girl to—”

“Adrien?”

The boy’s heart thudded against his chest. He slowly turned around, but only found the school president of his fanclub before him.

“Oh, hi Christie. What’s up?”

“I need to tell you something important.” She stepped forwards until she was only a meter apart. She took a deep breath and said: “I’m in love with you.”

---

#miraculous ladybug #the trials of confessing #ttoc #miraculous ladybug fanfic #Chat Noir #Adrien Agreste #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Ladynoir #Adrinette

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their-destinys-writer · 10 months

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The Trials of Confessing - Chapter 4

Rated: Teen

Chapters: 4/5

Ao3 / Wattpad

For additional content and behind the scenes, support me on Patreon. I also take Ko-fi.

A/N: This story was posted in my Patreon a while ago. If you can’t wait to read the remaining chapters, you can read the full story on Patreon right now! As for the timeline of this story, this takes place right after Oblivio.

First | Previous | Next

“Giiirl, you’re killing me,” Alya groaned to the receiver. “I know you’re trying to spare Adrien more torture, but, again, what if your confession is the one he’s waiting for?!”

“Uuugh, I know,” Marinette whined, falling back on her chaise, holding the phone to her ear. Somehow ending up in another conversation about her confession to Adrien right after patrol. “There’s just been so many confessions, and some of them have been so good. Did you know that one of the girls actually found a copy of his mom’s movie? I mean, who can compete with that?! That was the best gift in the history of gifts!”

“Yes, and that movie also happened to be terribly pirated,” Alya added. “The view literally gets blocked by Gorizilla’s giant hand. It’s garbage.”

“But it was still an amazing try.”

“Marinette, none of that matters if it’s the wrong girl. Remember: all the girls supposedly confessing their undying love for Adrien are not actually in love with him. They’re just celebrity crushing. But you, you’re different and you know it.”

“I know I’m different.” Marinette said. “And that’s why I’m so scared to confess. This is just such horrible timing. I feel like I’d just be making his life harder.”

“Weeell,” Alya drawled. “Not necessarily.”

“Alya, come on.”

“Uuuh.”

Marinette frowned. “What is it?”

“I’m not supposed to tell you,” Alya said in a lower tone. “But you’re my best friend and I think you should know.”

“What is it?” Marinette sat up, the phone pressed even closer to her ear.

“Adrien gave Nino and I a project. He asked us to make a list of all the girls in school and cross off all the ones who have already confessed to him. Oh and Lila and Chloé. He said he’s a hundred percent sure they’re not the love of his life.”

“He’s trying to narrow it down?”

“Yeap. The guy’s so done with all the confessions. But in order for them to stop, the girl that promised to confess has to actually confess. And believe me, I will make sure to keep you in the list of potential love-of-the-life-of-Adrien-Agreste.”

“Alya! Please don’t use this as another scheme to get me and Adrien together!”

“I’m not!” she insisted. “I’m following Adrien’s instructions to the letter. He said to make the list and to cross off any girl who had already confessed or are in a relationship already or have already proved one way or another they’re not interested in him. And you, my sweet cherry blossom, have none of the requirements. Which he didn’t know ‘til today, I might add.

Anyway, the point is that, by Adrien’s own rules, you could potentially be the girl he’s waiting for. And I’ll be there to make sure you don’t get crossed off for the wrong reasons. So, in other words, if you confess to him, you’d be doing him a favor, because you’d be helping him narrow down his search.”

“For something you weren’t supposed to tell me, you sure were eager to spill the beans,” Marinette deadpanned.

“Only for the benefit of the girl I know is the girl.”

“Th-That’s so u-unlikely,” Marinette stammered.

“You don’t know that!” Alya insisted. “C’mon. Don’t you think it’s one wild coincidence that, the very day you decided to finally, officially confess to Adrien, he happens to tell Nino that the girl he loves is going to confess?”

“Alya—”

“Not done,” she insisted, making Marinette press her lips together. “You also happen to create this special macaron, with a special package, with special design on it, as part of your confession? And the first clue these girls get is that the special girl is supposed to give him a gift of some sort? Girl, your confession screams of Adrien’s special lady. Besides, didn’t you say you told one other person of what you were planning?”

“Well, yeah,” Marinette said. “Just a friend I know.”

“And how do you know that friend?”

“U-Um,” Marinette bit her nails, trying to think of a white lie, “w-we, um,” she sighed, “I actually don’t know what he looks like. We talk in anonymity.”

“Aha! Pen pal!”

“Something like that,” she muttered.

“Then who’s to say that pen pal is not Adrien?”

“And who’s to say the right girl is not one of the hundreds of girls in school!”

“Dozens,” Alya corrected. “Out of a hundred and thirty-two students in the whole school, only seventy-three of them are girls. Of those seventy-three, thirty-three have already confessed, seventeen are already in a relationship—six of them with each other, I might add—plus Lila, Chloé and Alix got crossed off. That only leaves twenty girls left, you among them. And Adrien is pretty freakin’ sure that special lady is one of you.”

“Wow, I really thought there’d be more!”

“Exactly! Honestly, at this point, you’re the only girl who fits Adrien’s description. And I’m pretty sure he will be crossing off a few more names from that list tomorrow. Basically, what I’m saying is: You’re the only girl who can take Adrien out of his current misery.”

There was silence from Marinette. All the new information left her reeling, wondering a hundred things at the same time. And far more confused than she had already been during patrol earlier.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “I’ll do my best to do it tomorrow.”

“Atta, girl!” Alya celebrated. “I promise to help you out in giving you guys the privacy you deserve.”

“Thanks.” Marinette smiled.

The girls spoke for another half hour, Alya making up ways in how she could make sure they don’t get interrupted by another gross ‘confession’ from the fans. With plans A, B, C and D, she was finally content enough to turn in for the night.

However, Marinette was in a complete opposite mood. She tried distracting herself sowing, but her mind was too far away from the task, causing her to prick her fingers several times. She then tried designing. But, once again, her brain did not cooperate.

“Marinette, it’s already past one in the morning,” Tikki said.

“Yeah,” said girl responded absentmindedly. Her pencil was still on her sketchbook, doodling the design she made for Chat Noir for the twentieth time that night.

Out of all the names Chat Noir could’ve used, of all the people in Paris, he chose to call her by her real name. Even if it was accidental. Even if he hadn’t meant it. It didn’t change that it happened.

What were the chances he was right? And if he was, would it be a good thing? Or a bad thing? How would it change their relationship, with and without the masks? How had she not considered the very real possibility of him being right?

“Uuugh.” Marinette’s hands slid down her face. “How can I be so sure of what I want, yet so scared to actually act upon it?”

“So, you want Chat Noir to be Adrien?” Tikki asked.

“I-I... Maybe? I dunno. Wouldn’t it get awkward between us, if he is? After rejecting him so many times—”

“Don’t forget he rejected you, too.”

“Well, that’s true. Though, my supposed feelings weren’t real. Explaining that will also be awkward. Gah!” Marinette grabbed her head, right before resting it on the sketchbook in front of her. “What was I thinking when I agreed to this dumb deal? And why is it that the idea that he could be Adrien is not as crazy as when Alya had suggested it at the beginning of the school year?”

She let out a long sigh. “This needs to end,” she declared. “I have to stop overthinking, and just get it over with, like ripping off a bandage. For my sanity and his sake.”

“That’s the spirit!” the kwami cheered.

* * *

Adrien just wanted someone to save him already. Before class started, seven girls had already tried catching his heart. One of them even went as far as giving him five different presents. Marinette had to, once again, intervene to make sure no akuma was created from that particular encounter. Unfortunately, he was unable to thank her properly, too conscious about the fact that he called Ladybug by Marinette’s name the day before.

What was worse was that he was very much aware of the fact that Marinette was among the girls who could potentially be Ladybug. The only girl in their class who could potentially be Ladybug. What Nino and Alya hadn’t known was that Adrien ended up crossing off four additional names due to having witnessed them as akumas. Thus, eliminating Sabrina, the only other girl from their class originally in the list.

That left only sixteen girls in the whole school who could still be Ladybug. And one of them was starting to look more and more like the girl he loved. But what if he was wrong? He couldn’t risk going to her, giving her his heart, and being completely wrong. Yet, his heart was starting to skip a beat every time he merely got a glimpse of her.

Having her helping out with the other girls also didn’t make things any easier.

“Second potential akuma has been defused,” Marinette sighed, as she walked towards the lockers. “I really thought they would start getting tired today.”

“Dude, it’s, like, the complete opposite,” Nino chimed in, closing his own locker. “They don’t understand a no is a no. I mean, they’re just coming off as insensitive and selfish at this point.”

“I don’t think fans really think about that,” Adrien commented, rubbing his temples. “All they care is about having an opportunity with me, and that’s it.”

“That’s so shallow,” Marinette huffed.

“Adrien?”

The boy whined when he heard his name. When he turned, he was surprised to find Sabrina, Aurore and Mireille standing close to Marinette. He was lightly amused at how the girl quickly squinted her eyes at them.

“Sorry to bother you,” Sabrina said, “but we wanted to let you know that the three of us aren’t interested in asking you out, and we’re not the girl you’re looking for. Also,” she lowered her voice and leaned closer, “Chloé is not the girl either. She doesn’t talk to anyone she doesn’t know in person. I know because I sort out her emails and messages.”

“We just didn’t want you to worry about us,” Aurore added. “Although I’m personally part of your club, I was very insistent about not being part of this charade. Sadly, I was in the minority. But just so you know, the club has a list of potential gifts that get crossed off every time one of the girls fails.”

“My fears have been confirmed,” Adrien whispered, his hands sliding from his temples to his hair.

“Look on the bright side,” Nino palmed his best friend’s back, “now you know for sure she’s not in your fanclub. So, she really is in it for real.”

“I guess,” he muttered, finally putting his arms down. It was just then that he noticed Alya arrive and elbow Marrinette. He gulped.

“Oh!” Marinette yelped. “Uh, Adrien, I was wondering...” Her gaze turned to the other girls. They seemed to immediately understand and bid them goodbye. Adrien frowned. “I was wondering if you wanna hide out in the art room today at lunchtime.”

“With the art crew?” he asked.

“W-Well, uh, not exactly.” She fiddled her hands together. “You see, Professor Monlataig thought it would be a good idea to get some of the art club students to take on an outdoor project. So they were talking, and found this cute little business that was looking for someone to make a mural, but I wasn’t really sure I wanted to participate, so I talked to Alix—”

“Long story short,” Alya loudly intervened, “the art club will be out, and no one expects you to be in the classroom, so Marinette is offering to hide you there.”

“Oh,” Adrien breathed, absentmindedly twisting the ring on his finger. “That sounds great! Thank you, Marinette.”

“Psh, not my problem. I MEAN, no problem! It’s my pleasure to help out a friend.” She then proceeded to smack her face. Clearly in embarrassment. “C’mon, Alya. Class is about to start.”

Without another glimpse at him, she grabbed her best friend by the wrist and walked away. Adrien closed his locker to head in the same direction, when Nino spoke up: “Yo, I just looked at the list. And, with Mireille, that narrows it down to only fifteen girls. Though, how come Sabrina and Aurore were already crossed off?”

“A hunch!” Adrien rapidly responded. “And other clues I had already gotten. Wait, did you say fifteen?”

“Yep.” Nino showed his phone screen, with the list they shared.

Adrien grabbed the phone, his heart skipping another beat as he noticed that, out of the few girls left, the only name he recognized was Marinette’s. From the look of it, she would be the only one who would make sense. Unless he really didn’t notice someone else. Meaning he completely missed Ladybug.

Nope, don’t go there, he mentally scolded himself.

“Hey, Nino, can I ask you a favor?” he found himself saying. The boy hummed. “Is there any chance you can find a way so that... um...” He gulped, heart beating faster than usual. “So that Marinette and I can be alone today? At lunchtime?”

When he looked up from the phone, Nino seemed to be trying his best to hold in a smile, but completely failing at it.

“I think that can be easily arranged,” he responded, a glint in his eye.

* * *

The road to the art classroom had been slightly tricky, trying to get there without anyone noticing Adrien’s presence. Luckily, Nino, Alya and Marinette made sure no one saw him. Once in the classroom, the four of them collapsed on the platform next to Alix’s mural.

“Peace and quiet,” Adrien breathed.

“For real, this classroom almost feels like a whole other dimension,” Nino said. “A little too quiet for my liking, but free of crazy fangirls.”

“Some people just don’t know where to draw the line,” Alya commented. “Gosh, all this running around has made me really hungry. You guys want some snacks?”

“Sure.”

“Already?!”

Marinette squawked, at the same time as Adrien had responded. The other three stared at her.

“I-I mean,” she said, “I knew you were thinking about getting something, I just didn’t think you’d leave so soon.”

“Sorry, girl, I’m starving.” Alya shrugged. “Which reminds me, I’m gonna need a second pair of hands. Nino, can you come with me?”

“Wait, you’re taking Nino?” Adrien asked, suddenly as self aware as Marinette.

“Sorry, dude. If my girlfriend needs me, she needs me,” he said, with feigned resignation as he stood up. “We’ll be back soon. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be safe here with Marinette.”

Adrien turned to said girl, who was looking flushed. He looked back at the couple, only to find them already waving at them from the door. In mere seconds, they were gone, and he was alone with Marinette. Completely and utterly alone. Just like he had asked Nino.

And yet, he hadn’t been prepared. He wasn’t even sure about what exactly was he hoping for. Or if what he hoped for could even happen. His hands felt around the platform, attempting to find a relaxed position. If it was even possible.

“So,” Marinette suddenly started, thought not looking at him, “how many today, so far?”

“Eighteen,” Adrien said with a sigh, directing his gaze at the door.

“Wow,” she said. “That’s a lot for barely being midday.”

“It really is,” Adrien agreed, easing into the conversation. “I’m getting really tired of rejecting girls over and over again. If only… she would confess already, this would all be over. But I can’t exactly push her to do that.”

“I’m sure she will soon,” Marinette said quietly. “Say, since we’re on the subject, I was wondering: So many girls have confessed at this point, and I know you’re very irritated already, b-but, what would you do if a friend were to c-confess to you?”

Adrien blinked, right before turning to her. He immediately got a flashback of Nino touching on the subject the previous day. Had he known? Perhaps not the thing he should be thinking about in the moment. Then again, their current predicament worked a little too well, when he barely asked for the favour that very morning.

“Why do you ask?” he couldn’t help but say.

“J-Just curious!” she rushed to say. “You know, because it’s not the same turning down some girl you don’t even know, than say Sabrina, or Alix, or Kagami.”

Or you? Adrien thought, once again conscious about the fact that Marinette was one of the few people still not crossed off the list of potential Ladybug’s in the school. Is it possible? Could she be? Am I reading too much into it?

“Well,” he started cautiously, his stomach doing annoying summersaults, “I guess it depends. I know I’m tired of getting confessions, but if someone who hasn’t approached me suddenly decides to, I’ll be paying close attention, just in case.”

“And if that friend turned out to not be the girl?” Marinette asked quietly.

“If they’re my friend, I think they would understand if they’re not the person I’m looking for. I just hope it wouldn’t hurt our friendship, especially if it’s someone I care deeply about.”

“I see,” she said. Adrien leaned an inch closer, ears perked, waiting her next words. “Um, wh-what if I told you I know of a friend who—”

The door slammed open as the most despicable person in the school walked in.

“There you are!” Lila said, with feigned sweetness. “I was worried you left the school. How are you Adrien?”

“What is it, Lila?” Adrien asked, without even bothering to respond to her question.

“Oh, nothing much, I just wanted to give you something.” She placed a small box next to him on the platform. “I had been meaning to tell you—”

“No.”

Lila made a strange noise, clearly not expecting to get rejected so quickly. Adrien could feel Marinette shaking next to him. Probably resisting the urge to laugh.

“You didn’t even let me finish—”

“No,” Adrien reiterated. “You’re not her. I at least know that much.”

“But you haven’t even seen—”

“I already got proof that you’re not her, so please don’t bother trying.”

Lila blinked. “Gotcha!” she said suddenly, letting out a light laugh. “Of course I’m not her, silly. I’m just playing with you. As a real friend, I would never put you through such an uncomfortable situation. I think any friend stooping so low to be part of those girls doesn’t even deserve to be called a friend.” Lila tossed her hair back. “Anyway, I did want to give you the quiche, I know it’s your favorite. I hope the real girl turns up.”

With a last smirk, she turned back to the door and shouted a ‘bye Adrien!’. Said boy shook his head and placed a hand on the box.

“You think it’s poisoned?” Adrien joked. However, he didn’t receive a response. Not even a chuckle. When he looked at Marinette, she was pale. “Marinette?”

“Is quiche really your favorite?” she asked.

“My favorite what?”

“Your favorite pastry.”

“No?” Adrien arched a brow. “I mean, I love quiche, but it’s not exactly my favorite. Though, this is getting uncomfortably close to what I’m supposed to get.”

“Is it?!” Marinette squeaked.

“Adrien?” A voice spoke from the door. When he turned, he saw one of the girls who had confessed to him the day before. “I heard you were here.”

“Adrien’s there?” another voice said outside.

Oh no, Adrien thought. As if she had read his mind, Marinette grabbed his hand and pulled him off the platform, to the other door of the classroom. As they ran off, he took a glimpse back to the group of girls crowding on the door, not even noticing he had left through the other. Except probably the one inside the classroom being ignored.

When they turned a corner, they peeked around it, checking how bad it was today. That was when they saw it.

“Is that—”

“—a wedding dress?!” Marinette finished for him. They stared bewildered, as one of the girls walked around with a poofy white gown looking for the person who said the words Marinette had just loudly uttered.

“There!” she screamed, pointing in their direction.

On cue, Adrien and Marinette sprinted off the opposite way, while a hoard of girls followed them. They zig-zagged through the hallways, entering classrooms and exiting through the other door. While they managed to widen the gap, they didn’t truly lose them until they climbed out a window from a classroom near the entrance of the school, landing near bushes in a patch of grass.

“I think we’re safe here,” Adrien breathed. “Talk about deja vú. Now what’s left is someone thinking you’re my girlfriend.” He chuckled and looked at Marinette, expecting a laugh. But instead, she was still catching her breath, slightly turned away from him and holding tightly to her purse. “Are you okay?”

“I’m scared!” she said at last. “I’m terrified. I can’t do what I’m supposed to, and I keep upsetting my friend and making his life harder and I don’t think I can do it—”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he attempted to comfort what seemed to be the start of a panic attack. “Marinette, you could never upset me. If anything, you’ve made this whole situation so much more bearable—”

“It’s not you I’m upsetting,” she interrupted. After a two-second pause, she cringed. “Or maybe it is. This is so confusing. I don’t think I can go through with this.”

“With what? Maybe I can help.”

“No, you can’t. I think. Though, technically… Gah!” Marinette held her head. “I don’t know! I don’t know what to do, I don’t have the guts for this.”

“Hey,” Adrien grabbed her shoulders, “whatever it is, you can do it. You’re one of the bravest girls I know, and you would never back out from a challenge, no matter how much it scares you. And I’m sure that, whoever you’re talking about, you’re not upsetting them or making them go through a hard time. Nobody could ever be truly upset with you over your own feelings. Now, just breathe and tell me if I can help.”

Marinette bit her lip, and, to his horror, a tear slid down her cheek. Before he could apologize, she slammed her body against his, with her arms wrapped around his waist.

“I’m in love with you, Adrien.”

---

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#miraculous ladybug #the trials of confessing #ttoc #miraculous ladybug fanfic #Chat Noir #Adrien Agreste #Ladybug #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Ladynoir #Adrinette

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