Archive of Our Own ^beta

It had been a pure accident that they ended up in the same alleyway to detransform. Hell, Marinette wasn't even trying to follow him!

When she noticed the green light flashing, indicating that the mask was dropping, Marinette slapped her hands to her face as quickly and as quietly as she could, but it had been too late.

It really didn't help that she could recognize Adrien's voice as he began to bicker with his kwami and the fact that she could hear Plagg's voice, loud and clear.

Marinette fell down into the alleyway a few seconds later, still cladded in her red and black polka-dotted suit. Her eyes subconsciously following the back of the boy that has long gone. She didn't even notice her own transformation had dropped until she saw her red kwami fly up next to her, silently begging for a treat. Marinette numbly and robotically opened her purse, allowing Tikki to swoop in and enjoy her sweets.

All while her mind continued to swirl around the new knowledge she had just gained.

It made her realize numerous things, such as;

Chat Noir had been the one to check up on her during school hours. Chat Noir had been the one backing her up when no one else believed her. Chat Noir had been protecting her. Chat Noir has been making civilian Ladybug flustered.

And;

Adrien had been the one fighting alongside her through every battle they fought. Adrien had been the one confessing his love, making puns at the worst moments, and prancing around Paris in black leather. Adrien had been the one sneaking onto her balcony nearly every other week. Adrien had been the one stirring Marinette's heart up. 

Again. Her brain unhelpfully adds. Gee thanks. Marinette rolled her eyes.

When Marinette realized that she had been falling for the cat, she had an entire breakdown. She loved Adrien, and she still does! But her stupid black kitty had wormed into her heart, and made a nest there. She couldn't help but fall for her flirtatious and, reluctantly she adds, charming partner.

Just when Marinette was fine with how things had unexpectedly turned out, yet another bomb had been dropped on her, sending her mind, and her heart, into turmoil.

As it turns out, it had been the same fucking boy making her heart throb the entire fucking time.

Marinette's jaw was practically stuck open as she stood dumbly in the now-empty alleyway. An expression that perfectly represents the phrase 'what the everloving fuck just happened' was plastered on her face.

"Marinette...?" Tikki poked the shocked girl's cheek.

The poke broke the girl out of her frozen state. What replaced her shock was absolute, and rather out of place, fury. "That stupid cat!" Tikki flew up in alarm. Did she not like Adrien anymore- "How dare he makes me fall in love with him twice?!" Nevermind then. Still in love. Maybe even more.

Marinette grumbled underneath her breath again. "He needs to check his surroundings before he drops his transformation too... Imagine the disaster it would be if it was someone else?" Tikki giggled at her slightly disgruntled face.

"You weren't in your right mind either, Marinette!" Tikki chirped. Marinette groaned, dragging her hands down her face as she dropped to the ground.

"Well, that was after I realized that crush #1 was actually crush #2 and I technically been crushing on the same boy this entire time?!" Her voice raised again. "Oh my god! Adrien is Chat Noir! Chat Noir is Adrien...!"

"I've thought you established that already?" Tikki asked, bemused by her chosen.

"Still a little shocked, to be honest," she said, "They don't act similar at all. You think it's Plagg's influence? Being Lady Noire did make me flirt with Mister Bug, er, Chat... Adrien? Chadrien?"

"Does it matter?" Tikki asks instead, peering up into Marinette's blue eyes. "Does it make you love him less now that you realized his secret?"

When Marinette stayed quiet, Tikki was afraid she had overstepped her boundaries, but then the noirette shook her head as a loving gaze overtook her face.

"No," Marinette smiled softly at her. "It makes me love him even more." She giggled at her own words. "Gods, I'm such an idiot," she said, still with an infatuated smile on her face. "I rejected Chat for Adrien when they were the same boy!" Tikki chuckled at her revelation.

Marinette opened her purse and Tikki dives in. They've got to go home now but Marinette was still just a little starstruck, and lovestruck.

"Can you believe it, Tikki? I wouldn't have to choose between the two of them when I could pick one and get both!" Marinette lightly squealed. "Do you what this means?" She stared expectantly down to Tikki in her open purse.

"What does it mean?" Tikki asked, bemused by her holder's excitement.

"Operation: Secret Garden part two is a go!" She winked. Tikki frowned. Marinette found herself calming down at the disappointment Tikki's expression seemed to exude. "I'm not going to be talking to the girls about this, obviously." She smiled when Tikki's frown turned more neutral. "Now that I know that they're the same people, and that they both like Ladybug, who is technically me, I don't need to be worried!"

"But Marinette! You know you guys aren't allowed to reveal your identities to each other."

Marinette felt her heart drop at that. That's right. Secret identities and all of that.

"I guess... I can't-"

"No!" Tikki swerved upwards. "I'm not telling you that you can't confess. I'm just telling you that maybe revealing yourself as Ladybug isn't the right way to make Adrien love you."

"But then what else can I do?" Marinette found herself sidestepping into another alleyway to hide from the public eye. "I'm nothing special as just Marinette. Both Chat and Adrien only love me as Ladybug."

"Don't say that!" Tikki brought her arms out to hug her chosen. "You are special! Ladybug only appears because she was already within you, Marinette."

"But secret identities, Tikki!" Marinette threw her hands up in the air and grumbled. "I'm not allowed to tell him anything about me because of the danger Hawkmoth can cause. I can't stop loving him, but I can't even tell him that." She felt tears swelling up in her eyes.

How is this fair?

She just found out that the two most precious boys in her life, her partner and her classmate, were one and she couldn't even act upon her feelings for them!

"I can't lie to him, Tikki. Not after everything I found out about him," she muttered quietly. "I won't keep anymore secrets from him. I'm promising myself that." Marinette found herself relighting a spark in her heart. "We're taking a detour, Tikki."

"Marinette..." Tikki flew back into her holder's purse with a worried expression.

"We still have time before Maman and Papa will question where I am. Besides Master Fu's place is close by." Marinette sighed. "I just want to love him freely. He deserves that after everything."

"Okay."

"And I know that all about the consequences that can happen because we reveal ourselves- wait what?" Marinette spluttered as she looked up from the ground at Master Fu. Tikki also flew up.

"Master?!"

"I'm allowed to reveal myself?!" Marinette smiled widely. She had totally expected to be rejected but who knew that he would change his mind.

"B-But Master!" Tikki waved her arms in the air. "What if Hawkmoth gets one of them-"

"Don't you trust them, Tikki?" Fu asked. Tikki frowned lightly.

"Of course I do, Master! I'm just worried..."

Marinette knew where her kwami was coming from. She, herself, has almost gotten akumatized before so Tikki's concerns were very much valid.

"There will always come a time when the two holders reveal themselves. Now that one of them knows, it would be best for the other to know too. Besides, you love Chat Noir and Adrien, both of them, don't you, Marinette?" There was a twinkle in Fu's eyes that unsettled Marinette a bit. She ignored it in favor of answering his question.

"Of course." She confirmed. "He is precious to me, and I don't want to lie about my feelings for him anymore."

"You won't be allowed to reveal yourself to him immediately." At his wording, Marinette perked up. "But as long as you slowly clue him in, I see no problem. Who knows? Perhaps the reveal will help you guys in battle."

"Are you sure about this, Master?" Tikki asked again.

"Positive, Tikki." Fu nods. "Just outright telling him you're Ladybug won't help him out. You must let him notice you as Marinette too."

"I understand, Master Fu!" Marinette nodded fervently. Tikki smiled at her reaction. 

"I believe in you, Marinette!" She flew up and hugged her owner's cheek. "I may worry a lot but I do hope you know that I support your decision! You love Adrien and I won't stop you from that! Just be careful." Tikki leaned her forehead into Marinette's cheek. "I'm scared that Hawkmoth would take advantage of you."

"Oh Tikki. Don't worry." Marinette smiled. "I'll be sure to be extra careful."

Fu coughed once, regaining the attention of the girl and kwami in the room. "I'm glad you guys made up." He smiles before sharing a look with Tikki. "Marinette, would you mind if I talk to Tikki for a moment? You'll be free to go right after."

Marinette shook her head and stood up. "I don't mind." She looked over to Tikki. "I'll be waiting for you outside, okay?" The red kwami nodded, watching the noirette as she left the room.

Making sure that she was completely out of earshot, Tikki turned back to Master Fu. And promptly broke out into a big smile, one that Master Fu mirrored.

"Can you believe it, Master Fu?!" Tikki squealed. "It worked like a charm! I never knew my acting could be so realistic."

"Fufu," he stroked his beard, his eyes twinkling. "I knew my eyes weren't wrong. Those two are made for each other." The kwami lets out another squeal at that.

"Who knew what pushed Marinette to be this confident is to figure out that Chat Noir was Adrien?" Tikki flew a loop into the air. "She deserves to be happy after everything going on in her life!" Another loop but in the shape of a heart. "Oh, aren't they the cutest, Master Fu? Marinette is one of the purest Ladybugs I have ever had the pleasure to meet! And Adrien is so kind! They are truly perfect for each other! I hate acting like I don't want them together when they deserve one another."

Fu lets out another laugh at the kwami's shenanigans. "I am rather pleased with this outcome as well. I certainly expected around three more years before they was sure of their feelings. But I suppose true love doesn't wait for anyone."

Tikki practically beams at that. "And I get to win my bet with Plagg! Hah! I bet he's going to be fuming over this." She giggled. When Fu raised an eyebrow, Tikki explained, "We were betting on who would figure out their feelings for each other the moment we realized our holders' identities, and I won!" She flew and flipped in the air again.

"I'm glad you and Plagg are having fun with this."

Tikki giggled. "Oh, we are! But I guess I should go now, shouldn't I, Master?"

"I wouldn't like to keep you away from Marinette." Fu smiled. "Go on, Tikki, but make sure not to tell her that Operation: Love Square is a go."

Tikki beamed. "Of course not! Besides, my Marinette has another plan." She waved at Fu before leaving. "Bye, Master! I'll be sure to update you when we come by again." And before he knew it, the kwami was out the door.

"Must your plan be so complicated, Master?" Wayzz flew out of his bracelet. "You could just say you allow Marinette to reveal herself. There's no need to play the long game after their two years of pinning. Anyone with a working eye can see that they're made for each other."

"Oh but Wayzz, where will I get my romance drama from?" Fu winked at his kwami with a smile. Wayzz shook his head before reluctantly smiling.

Well, this situation was pretty entertaining. It makes him want to drink some tea and relax and enjoy the show.

Marinette paced around her bedroom floor, already changed into her sleeping wear. She was biting onto her pen before scribbling something on the large white poster paper labelled; Operation Primrose. Then she went back to pacing around.

Rinse and repeat.

Tikki flew up in front of her after her fifth lap. "What's wrong, Marinette?" The red kwami asked.

Marinette shook her head. "Nothing bad, just figuring things out," she gave her a small smile. "It's going to take a long time to get used to this but I think I'll be able face him after all I found out. He's still my kitty."

"Of course he is," Tikki pushed her cheek against her chosen's. "I believe in you, Marinette. You can sweep him off his paws!" She said, a slight fire in her eyes.

Marinette giggled. "You seemed much more willing now, Tikki."

"Oh, I've always been on your side, Marinette. I know how much you wanted to confess to Adrien and I'm not going to be the person to stop you from doing so." Tikki gave Marinette a tight hug, pushing her cheeks against the noirette's. "I know you got this!"

Marinette smiled before the fire relighted in her eyes. "Oh, I know just what to do."

Tikki isn't sure if she should start praying for Adrien when a mischievous grin overtakes her chosen's soft smile. She thought for a minute, before shrugging. Oh well, at least she'll be there to watch the drama.