Adrien's POV

When I see Marinette the next day, my face quickly turns sour.

"Dude, what's up?" Nino notices.

"Oh, nothing. I was just remembering I have to fence after school and I don't feel like it today."

"Couldn't you just not go?"

"Maybe."

I've been contemplating whether or not to say anything to her, but would it even do any good?

It would take too long between classes, and I'm not missing lunch on her account, anyway.

Maybe after school?

But I really do have fencing, although I don't actually mind going.

I just wish I knew what to say.

"Hey, turns out you're just really mean with no reason, apologize now."?

I can't do that!

So the whole day, I think about what I could say to her.

And when classes are over, I quickly decide that I'll say something before fencing.

"Do you need to leave now?" I approach her and ask.

"Uhh, no! Why?!"

"We need to discuss some things." I say, and motion for her to come with me.

After a second she follows, and we go to the locker rooms, but they're full.

Eventually we find an empty classroom and duck into it.

"O-ok, what uh, what did you want to talk about??" She stutters.

"Kwamis don't have periods." I get right to the point, shutting the door so nobody can hear that we're talking as miraculous holders.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, Plagg told me. So there was no excuse for you to say the things you did to me, and especially not what you said to y/n."

A look of shock passes over her face and she stays silent for a moment.

"Uhh. I, um. I- what?"

"Marinette. I am not your little sidekick. We are supposed to be partners. So why did you think it was OK to say that stuff?! To say that I wasn't fit to have a miraculous?"

"I was just mad!"

"Why?! I've never said anything like that to you!"

"I know! You are good at being Cat Noir, I shouldn't have said that."

"No. You shouldn't have. But if you didn't mean it why did you say it?"

"I was upset at the time."

"At me?"

"Kinda."

"But why?! I would've thought you'd be extra happy with me because I'd stopped bothering you!"

"Yeah, well. That was in a way the problem too."

"Why?! You always got mad. You didn't like when I did and you didn't like when I didn't, so do you just not like when I do anything?!"

"No! I was just confused!"

"Confusion doesn't make someone act like a jerk."

"I'm not a jerk!"

"Then why would you tell me, someone who has risked my life for you on many occasions, that I don't deserve a miraculous?! Therefore, I don't deserve to be your partner? Have I not died for you enough times?"

"It's not that! I know you've done all that and I'm very grateful!"

"Then why would you say such mean things to me, and to y/n? Why would you tell her that you'd make sure I never saw her?"

"Because I was jealous, OK?!"

"You had no reason to be. I would ask you out, and you would always say no. So you clearly didn't like me!"

"Well maybe I did!"

"Well maybe that's still no reason to be so awful. But I just wanted to tell you, so maybe you wouldn't try to use that excuse again. And I was hoping you might feel like an apology was in order, but apparently you just want to make excuses for yourself."

"OK, I'm sorry!"

"Good." I say as I turn towards the door.

I don't think I'll be able to stay friends with her.

But what do I do if the city needs Cat Noir and Ladybug to work together again?

"Wait, Adrien, I'm really REALLY sorry!" She says as I reach for the doorknob.

"You should be." I glance back at her.

Oh great, she's crying.

She's done bad things, and has really upset me, but still, I don't like the idea that I've made someone cry.

"Maybe I'll be able to forgive you, eventually. But I'm not gonna speak for y/n."

"Stop."

"What?"

"Stop talking about her! That's the reason I was upset! I was upset at her for taking my partner and I was upset at you for being taken!"

"Excuse me?"

"The truth is, I was always secretly in love with you!"

"Yeah, OK. And that's why you said mean things, because everyone says horrible things to their loved ones! Once upon a time I may have believed that, but not anymore. Not now that I've actually experienced love by more than just my mother."

"Do you really think that? That I don't love you?!" She says, suddenly growing enraged.

"It sure seems that way?"

"I spent so long fawning over you! Doing anything I could to try and talk to you! I even mapped out your schedule because I love you so much!"

"If that is your idea of love, you are sorely mistaken. That is infatuation."

Now I'm scared, she mapped out my schedule?!

"You don't know what love is!"

"It seems like I know it more than you. How is that even possible? You have two parents who love and support you, and I only have one! And even then, she was gone or too sick to do anything for a lot of time."

"All I know is that I've been in love with you since you gave me your umbrella!"

"Really? A small amount of decency is all it takes for you to fall in 'love'?"

"Just shut up! You don't know how I feel!" She yells, advancing closer towards me.

"Do you?" I ask, reaching behind me for the door again.

I don't want her all up in my business, but I don't want to have to hurt her either, so it'll just be best to leave this conversation.

Before I can turn around and find it, my hand is grabbed.

"Does this answer your question?" She asks, forcing me lower and trying to kiss me.

Forget not wanting to hurt her, I'm not having a kiss with her that I remember.

"Get off me!" I yell, shoving her away.

She falls down and looks up at me in shock.

"It answers any questions I had about whether or not you're nuts!" Is the last thing I say before flinging the door open and rushing out it.

I hide in the bathroom and wash my face, just for good measure.

I didn't let her get close enough to actually touch me, so I don't need to wash completely like I did with Lila.

From what I could tell, everyone else has left.

There's no way I'll be able to make fencing now, but since I have time before I'm supposed to be picked up, I slip to the locker rooms and collect Plagg, then hurry outside to transform.

Once I'm ready I take to the rooftops and watch the streets.

Luckily I catch sight of my favorite person walking down the road with a cat carrier.

I quickly jump down to her and wrap my arms around her from behind.

"Guess who." I whisper in her ear.

"Hmm, it couldn't pawsibly be my meowst favorite Kitty, could it?" She giggles and leans into me, and for a moment, everything from before melts away and its just us.

"You're good at this game." I say, then kiss her cheek.

"I'm just glad you're actually dressed like a kitty." She says, setting down the carrier and turning to face me.

"What, am I only allowed to be your Kitty sometimes?" I put on my "Kitten eyes" as she calls it.

"No way. You're always my Kitty."

"And you're always my Angel."

She grins and leans up.

This is what feels right, nobody trying to force anything, no hurtful words.

It's almost sad, that Marinette doesn't understand that whatever we had for each other wasn't love.

This, on the other hand.

This is love.

After we part, y/n asks if fencing let out early.

"No, I didn't make it today."

"Why not? Is everything OK?"

I smile, and hug her tightly.

Although, I'm being careful about how tight.

"Yeah. But you might have to be in charge of the croissant runs now."

"Why? Did something happen? Did you talk to her?"

"Yep. Turns out, she thinks being creepy and mean to someone is love."

"Yikes."

"Uh-huh. But she didn't like it when I tried to tell her about real love."

"I hope she never tries to date anyone."

"Me too. Especially since she doesn't seem to care about consent, or the other person's feelings, or the fact that stalking is just not ok."

"What?"

"Yeah, she said she made a map of my schedule?! How freaky is that?!"

"Very, but can we go back to the consent part? She didn't try to do anything to you, did she?" Her voice gets angrier with every word.

"Uhm. Maybe?"

"Kitty. Did she hurt you?"

"No."

"Then did she do something else?" She asks, glancing at my lips.

"Tried to. But I didn't let her!"

"Awh, Adrien. I'm not worried about that, I know you wouldn't let her."

"But are you OK?" She asks.

"I guess. It kinda scared me, though. Like she knows my schedule? She has a miraculous, and can probably get access to any that she wants. What if she tries to hurt us?"

"She won't succeed. We don't need to worry about her, we've dealt with worse."

"Yeah. But it's still scary to think about. Like what if, what if we hadn't met. What if I had ended up with her?" I shudder just thinking about it.

"Hey, you don't need to worry about that. We did meet, and now, nothing else matters. And you don't have to worry, because I could never treat you like that. You mean the world to me." She blushes.

"Awww! You mean the world to me, too, Angel. I could never do anything like that to you, either."

"I know, Kitty. You're the best."

She hugs me tightly, and I suddenly realize we're still standing on the street.

"Uhh, do you think we should go somewhere more private? This is a strange place for the prequel to our vows."

"If you want." She laughs, blushing again.

"Oh wait, dang it. What time is it?" I mutter, reaching for my baton.

"Do you have somewhere to be?"

"I do." I say and wink, before I even realize it, really.

"How? How do you do this?"

"It's just natural, Angel."

She laughs as I check the time.

"Alas, I must be on my way."

"Aww. Bye." She pouts.

I give her another tight hug.

"I'll see you later. Oh hey, do you want me to bring anything tomorrow? Ugh, I am so glad it's almost Friday."

"Whatever you want. I do have a few plans, but nothing specific for all night."

"OK. I gotta tell Mom I'll be at Nino's, and Nino that I may need him to cover for me."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." I laugh.

We hug and kiss for a second, but then I have to run.

💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤
So I'm just gonna try and write whenever I can. I'll do longer chapters, no cliffhangers, and hopefully we can get this wrapped up before everything fails completely. I miss y'all so much already, I wish I could get it to work long enough to see at least the comments on new chapters, I'm having to use my dang texting app for this. Love y'all, and please just bear with me 💖💖💖