[Narrator's POV]

Ladybug and Cat Noir are on their usual night time patrol in Paris and, as usual, Cat Noir is pining for attention.

"I feel as though I haven't seen you in a millennia, my lady." Cat Noir says longingly.

"Really? Doesn't feel like too long that I've been without you. I guess time flies when I'm having fun." Ladybug replies.

"Harsh." Cat Noir says playfully. "So I take it you've enjoyed your summer holidays?"

Ladybug turns away to hide her smile as she thinks of Adrien. "Yeah, it's been pretty good."

Cat Noir also smiles as he thinks of Ladybug at the beach. "I bet you look almost as good as I do in a swimsuit." He says with a wink.

Ladybug grimaces and turns away again.

"I was thinking, maybe you and I could spend some time together before the break ends. The LadyNoir appreciation festival is tomorrow, as you know. We should go together." Cat Noir steps in front of Ladybug and caresses her cheek. "What do you think, bugaboo?"

Ladybug pulls her face away and continues walking. "I've told you, Chat. Our identities must stay a secret."

"Did I ask for your identity?" Cat Noir questions. "All I request is to spend some time with my lady when we're not fighting evil."

Ladybug sighs. "Chat. You're barking up the wrong tree. Yes, you're my partner and no one could ever replace you—but you're my work partner. I have no intention of getting involved with you."

"Okay. First of all—cat's don't bark, they purr," Cat Noir takes Ladybug's hand smoothly and kisses it. "And my heart purrs only for you, m'lady." He smirks before resuming his debate, "Secondly, I'm not pressuring you into going on a date with me. Just being by your side is enough for me. How about we try to hang out as friends? I don't see anything wrong with that."

Ladybug looks at Cat Noir sympathetically. "As long as you promise that we can just be friends. I care about you Chat. I couldn't bare hurting you so I don't want to lead you on."

"I understand, Ladybug." Cat Noir says. "So will you grace me with your company at tomorrow's festival?"

"Sure, why not." Ladybug answers.

.

*The next day* [Still Narrator's POV]

.

Alya, Nino, Marinette and Adrien had planned to spend their last day of the holiday at the LadyNoir appreciation festival. They have just arrived in the street that has been blocked off and lined with merchandise stalls and food benders.

"Almost a whole day with Adrien! Too bad I have to spend some of it with Cat Noir..." Marinette mutters to herself.

"A Ladybug and Cat Noir festival, eek! Talk about an awesome way to end summer." Alya fangirls. "Ladybug and Cat Noir will be making an appearance as the guests of honour. What a great blogging opportunity! Plus I can buy some of this super cool merch."

"I won't be there for the meet and greet, sorry Alya. I have to leave early to do some study." Marinette lies.

"Oh yeah, me too." Adrien cuts in.

"You guys are both leaving early? To study?!" Nino complains. "What a bunch of dorkosauruses."

"You're going to miss out on meeting Ladybug and Cat Noir!" Alya adds sadly.

"What's there to miss? I can just watch it on your blog later." Marinette says.

Adrien nods in agreement.

Alya crosses her arms. "Fine. But Marinette, you owe me a solid."

"What? Adrien is leaving too, what about him?" Marinette whines.

"Adrien promised Nino he would come, not me. I have no right to punish Nino's best friend for him." Alya reasons.

Adrien looks at Nino as if expecting some kind of demand for leaving. Nino, who was goggling at all the different stalls, notices Adrien watching him and tunes into the conversation.

"Oh— Uh, I'll totally be cool with you ditching if you shout me some food." He says.

"Deal." Adrien agrees, giving Nino a fist bump.

Marinette groans at the injustice in this situation. She knows that Alya will save up the favour that is owed to her until the ultimate opportunity.

"Come on, let's hurry up and check out this festival." Alya says happily, rushing off into the packed street.

Nino, Adrien and Marinette run after Alya. She's completely unstoppable, zooming from stall to stall with her camera out. Finally, Alya stops.

"Oh. My. Ladybug." She gasps. "This stall has Ladybug and Cat Noir costumes. We have to get a photo in these!"

Alya grabs four costumes off the rack, two Ladybug and two Cat Noir, and holds them out to her friends. Both Adrien and Marinette back away as if the costumes are contagious.

"I-I would prefer not—" Marinette starts.

"Nah, I'm good." Adrien cuts in.

"It's just—I, uh—I have a phobia of...um...tight costumes—Yeah." Marinette lies.

"I can't put that on, it'll mess up my hair." Adrien excuses.

The two blabber on with nervous stuttering and fake excuses until coming to the same conclusion.

"Y-You two go on ahead." Marinette says.

"We'll stay out here." Adrien adds.

"Okay..." Nino says slowly.

"Argh, you guys are boring." Alya rolls her eyes before turning to Nino. "You'll try on a costume with me, right?"

"I dunno. I'd feel a little lame if we aren't all trying them on." Nino replies unsurely.

"Shame, I bet you would look great in a Cat Noir costume." Alya says with a flirty wink.

Nino immediately turns to Adrien and Marinette. "I'm gonna try on a costume, you guys can stay here."

He snatches up a Cat Noir outfit and hurries into the change rooms. Alya giggles before heading into her own change room with a Ladybug costume.

"So..." Adrien says. "Looks like the LadyNoir ship is kicking off."

"I don't think this festival is for a superhero ship. They use LadyNoir as a collective term because it's easier than saying Ladybug and Cat Noir." Marinette denies.

"Cat Noir has saved your life more than once. Didn't you swoon just a little after he saved you from the Evilistrator and Just-Ice?" Adrien prompts cockily.

"He didn't save me from either of those villains. If anything I saved him from the Evilistrator and Just-Ice wasn't threatening me, plus I told him I was waiting for you and didn't want to be taken home but he's sooo arrogant that he completely ignored me." Marinette rants. "Do you know how worried sick I was when he just left you there—"

Marinette stops herself, her cheeks flushing red.

Adrien doesn't read into what she said, he just continues talking up Cat Noir. "You didn't have to worry. It's the superhero's job to save people. Cat Noir came back for me like he said, didn't he?"

"How do you know he said that?" Marinette questions.

Adrien sweats nervously. "I—uh—He told me about you not wanting to leave. Cat Noir wanted me to know what a good friend you are because he's such a caring and dependable person of course."

"He did?" Marinette says softly. "Well, I do admit that he is very caring and dependable. He's always there when I need him—I mean when we need him, the city of Paris that is."

"So you do like him, I knew it!" Adrien's ego boosts a little, he continues with a smug grin. "I knew you had to like m—uh, him. Everyone loves the Cat."

"I never said I didn't like him." Marinette says quickly. She surprises herself with the urgency of her response. "I-I mean...he's pretty cool I guess—but I still don't think he has a shot with Ladybug." She adds stubbornly.

"Hmm..." Adrien examines Marinette closely.

Marinette's face turns bright red as Adrien leans in to look her up and down.

"Could it be?" He says with a smirk. "Marinette, are you..."

Marinette's eyes widen in horror. Has Adrien recognised her all of a sudden?

"Jealous?" Adrien finishes.

Marinette blinks in confusion. Adrien grins at her as he waits for her response.

"W-What? Jealous of who?" Asks Marinette.

"Of Ladybug." Adrien answers. "You have a thing for the Cat don't you? That's why you're in denial about LadyNoir."

"I-I do not!" Marinette argues.

"Aw, how cute. You're too shy to admit it." Adrien says cheekily. "Marinette, are you a Tsundere?"

"I'm not—I don't—" Marinette stammers, her face red with both frustration and embarrassment.

"It's okay Marinette. Cat Noir always leaves behind a trail of broken hearts wherever he saves the day." Adrien says, flicking his hair.

Marinette tries to speak but all that comes out are weak whimpers. She hangs her head in humiliation because now her true love thinks she is pathetically pining over a boy in cat ears.

"Ta-da!"

Marinette looks up to see Alya and Nino dressed as Ladybug and Cat Noir.

"Don't we look fabulous." Alya hands her phone to Marinette. "Take a picture for me, will you?"

Marinette takes the phone glumly and snaps a photo of Alya and Nino in their costumes.

"Thanks." Alya says, taking back her phone.

She and Nino disappear into the change rooms again to take off the costumes, leaving Marinette and Adrien alone once more.

Adrien sighs as he looks around at all the decorations. "I wish every day could be LadyNoir appreciation day."

[Marinette's POV]

I follow Adrien's gaze down the street packed with Ladybug and Cat Noir fans. For a moment, I am mesmerised by all the people that support me. I'm bewildered by the effort people have taken to honour me. It's incredible how many people appreciate me, I feel so loved. Sometimes it seems hard to balance being Marinette and Ladybug but standing here today I am so thankful to be living such an amazing life.

"Yeah...me too." I smile.

Alya and Nino emerge from the change rooms in their normal clothes.

"You guys go on ahead, I need to borrow Marinette." Alya says.

Nino and Adrien shrug before continuing down the street. Alya grabs my hand and pulls me into the costume shop.

"A-Alya! What are we doing?" I ask.

"I need to know your size." Alya answers.

"I told you, I am not wearing a Ladybug costume." I say seriously.

I don't care what Tiki says about the superhero suits being magic, putting on a Ladybug costume is sure to reveal my identity.

"You don't have to," Alya says. She takes a Cat Noir outfit off the rack and holds it up against my body. "Because you're going to be my Cat Noir."

"What? No, no, no." I reply. "I'm not wearing that."

"You owe me a solid." Alya says. "I'm throwing a Halloween party this year and I want to go as Ladybug, which means I need a Cat Noir."

"Why don't you get Nino to do it?" I plead.

"He said that the costume chafed him, but that's probably just an excuse because he really wants to dress up as Batman." Alya rolls her eyes and mutters, "So stupid..." She takes the Cat Noir and Ladybug costumes to the cashier to buy them. "Either way, he's not going to be my Cat Noir."

I sigh in defeat. I knew Alya would abuse this favour, but at least I don't have to dress as Ladybug.

Alya and I leave the costume stall and search through the crowded street for the boys. From around the corner, I hear a mention of my name. I grab Alya and pull her back to hide. As I listen to the conversation, I recognise the voices to be Adrien and Nino.

"So, like, are you just gonna ignore what happened at your dad's beach house?" Nino questions.

"What do you mean?" Adrien replies.

"I mean you and Marinette were totally flirting the whole time. You fell asleep cuddling on the beach, you were also clinging onto each other when Alya and I found you after you got lost on the last night," Nino says. "Plus you got all jelly when that Louis guy showed interest in her, so obviously you have a thing for Marinette. You gonna do anything about it or are you just gonna pretend it isn't there?"

I lean in eagerly. My heart beats wildly, almost exploding from my chest.

Adrien chuckles.

My heartbeat flattens. My stomach drops. Is...Is the thought of liking me laughable to him?

"I don't have a thing for Marinette. She's just a friend." Adrien answers. "I've told you, I'm in love with someone else."

My gut sinks even more. My chest feels heavy. I can feel tears stinging at the back of my eyes.

Alya looks at me in panic. "Marinette, I really don't think we should be eavesdropping."

I ignore Alya and shift closer to the corner to continue listening.

"You keep saying that but I haven't heard anything else about this mystery girl of yours." Nino says.

"If I told you, you would only laugh." Adrien replies.

"Dude, I'm your best friend." Nino says. "Just tell me."

"Alright," Adrien sighs. "It's Ladybug."

"What?" Nino exclaims.

"What?" Alya breathes.

"What?" I whisper in a shaky voice.

I don't know whether to be happy or to cry. Adrien will never love me because he loves Ladybug, but-but Ladybug is me...

"Dude. I knew you admired Ladybug but I thought it was just a childish crush." Nino says.

"No, I've fallen for her." Adrien says dreamily. "I mean, isn't she just amazing? She-She's perfect!"

Alya puts her hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Marinette. I had no idea Adrien was in love with Ladybug... she's going to be a tough love rival."

Of course...Ladybug isn't me. If Ladybug and I were the same then Adrien would love me. But he doesn't...he laughed at the very idea of it. I'm just a pathetic, awkward, loser. He's in love with the 'perfect' Ladybug. All of these people are.

I look around at the festival in hatred. This isn't for me, it's for Ladybug. I'm not loved at all. I'm not appreciated. These people don't even know who I am, all they care about is the flawless celebrity. Alya's right, I can't compete with Ladybug.

My heart shatters, pain and sadness flooding out in cold tears.

"I need to go." I say before sprinting away as fast as I can.

"Marinette, wait!" Alya calls out.

I run and run. The wind, cold against my tear-streamed cheeks. Sorrow tugs at my heart. My chest aches. Tears blur my vision. But I keep running. I sprint out of the LadyNoir festival street and turn into the park. My foot hits a rock as I run causing me to go flying to the ground, landing on the grass with a painful thud. I'm so pathetic. I don't have the strength to get up. I just lay there and sob, my tears soaking the soil beneath me.

"Marinette." I hear Tiki's voice say. "Marinette, please don't cry."

"What's the point in giving everything I have if I don't get the recognition for it?" I cry. "I'm tired Tiki. I'm exhausted!"

"But you do get recognition. This whole festival is dedicated to you." Tiki says. "Didn't you hear? Even Adrien thinks you're awesome. Shouldn't you be happy, Marinette? He's in love with you!"

"No, this festival is for Ladybug." I say. "Adrien is in love with Ladybug."

"But you are Ladybug." Tiki replies.

"No. I'm not." I argue. "Adrien doesn't love me, does he? He doesn't love Marinette, he loves Ladybug. I shouldn't have to compete with her, he should love my true self. He should love who I am as Marinette, not Ladybug."

Tiki opens her mouth to speak but a ringing from my phone interrupts her. I take my phone from my purse to see Alya's contact calling me. I press the hang up button and the call disappears, revealing my home screen.

"It's almost time for Ladybug to make her guest appearance." I observe.

"Marinette—" Tiki starts.

"Tiki. Spots on." I demand.

Tiki disappears into my earrings without another word. A wave of pink light consumes my being until I emerge as the flawless Ladybug. I wipe the tears from my face and lightly slap my cheeks.

"Smile, Marinette." I tell myself. "Ladybug is perfect, remember? She doesn't cry..."