"I love you," she whispered.

I love you. 

Adrien stared down at her in shock. Ladybug just said she loved him. 

Marinette grew nervous at his silence. Was it too soon? They had been seeing each other for months and dating for a few weeks now. Did he not love her back? She was his girlfriend, that had to mean something. He wasn't just using her for sex. 

She felt him shift and move out of her. She whimpered slightly, feeling empty and almost hurt. Yeah, he had to pull out of her eventually, but the timing was making her worried. 

Adrien sat back. The words still ringing in his mind. His heart fluttered in his chest, and he felt happy. 

Ladybug sat up, looking away. It wasn't until that moment that he noticed her expression. She looked hurt. That's when he realized, he hadn't said anything.

Ladybug just said she loved him in a vulnerable state. She said it while he was still inside her. His silence was probably making her worry. 

Adrien placed a hand on her cheek, turning her face to look at him. He smiled, a soft blush on his cheeks. 

"I love you too, ma petite coccinelle," he said softly before leaning in and pressing his lips against hers. 

Her eyes widened momentarily before closing, and she leaned into the kiss. 

After a few moments, they pulled apart. 

"You're my world, Ladybug," he smiled, resting his forehead against hers. 

I love you too.

You're my world. 

The words continued to ring in Marinette's mind. 

They had cleaned up by now and were in bed. They followed the same routine as previously. Adrien currently had his arms wrapped around her, his chest pressed against her back. He was sound asleep.

Marinette, on the other hand, was awake. Adrien loved her. He told her she was his world! 

As excited as she was, she couldn't help but feel the guilt set in once more. 

She turned to look at the clock next to Adrien's bed. 

1:34 AM. 

She sighed. She grabbed Adrien's arm and slowly removed it from her body. Careful as to not wake up him, she moved out of his grip and sat on the edge of the bed. 

Marinette stood up, making her way to the bathroom. She stepped inside, turning the light on after closing the door. She walked over to the sink turning the faucet on. 

Somewhere else in the room Tikki and Plagg sturred awake. Tikki looked towards the bed, seeing Marinette was gone. She turned to the bathroom, seeing some light slip out of the door. 

Plagg mumbled something incoherent. Tikki ignored him and flew over to the door, phasing through. Still half-asleep, Plagg followed. 

He phased through the door and came face to face with a wide-eyed Marinette. 

He froze, finally waking up. His gaze flipped between her and Tikki. Tikki looked confused as to why he had followed her. 

"You're Chat Noir's kwami..." Marinette whispered. Despite her knowing Adrien's identity, she hadn't officially met Plagg. He stayed in the shadows when he visited. 

He knew she knew, he and Tikki had discussed the topic when Marinette detransformed at night. 

"Yes, yes I am," he replied grumpily, crossing his tiny arms across his chest. 

He wasn't happy about it. He found the whole ordeal ridiculous. First, she rejects him, then she's here doing disgusting human activities with him. 

Marinette flinched slightly at his cold tone.

"Go away, Plagg," Tikki glared at him. 

"I don't understand you, humans," he mumbled before phasing through the door. 

"Are you ok?" Tikki asked, turning to Marinette.

Marinette stared at the door. 

"I want to go home. Tikki, spots on."

She turned off the light before slipping out of the bathroom. 

It took her a while to get used to the darkness. When she did, she turned to look back at the bed. 

Adrien was peacefully asleep, now holding a pillow in his arms. She walked over, placing a soft kiss on his cheek before walking towards the window. 

She took out her yoyo, opening the window, and climbing out quietly. 

Ladybug ran across Paris's night sky, her chest feeling heavy with guilt. 

Once she arrived at her balcony, she stepped into her room, letting her transformation off. 

She sat on her bed, her hands buried in her hands.

Tikki flew out of the rings, a worried look on her face.

"Marinette, are you ok?" she asked. 

"No," she sniffled. 

"But why? I thought you'd be happy. Adrien loves you," Tikki said. 

"I know, but what if you're right?" Marinette looked up, her eyes watery. 

"Right about what?"

"Th-that I should've st-stopped this sooner..."

A few tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks. 

"Why do you say that?"

"Tikki, he loves me, but he doesn't know it's me, Marinette!"

"And you don't think he'll love Marinette? He used to like you, didn't he?" Tikki asked, grabbing a tissue and handing it to her chosen. 

Marinette took it, wiping her tears away, "Yes, but Marinette broke his heart! At some point, he's going to want to know who I am. What will he think? That I pitied him? That I was just playing with him and his feelings?"

Tikki sighed, "Marinette, I think you're overthinking this."

"Did you not see the way his kwami looked at me?"

Plagg's glare made her even more nervous. If his kwami didn't seem to like her, did that mean Adrien would be pissed too?

"That's just Plagg, he isn't the nicest sometimes. Besides, he was still half-asleep. It's late, go to bed. You'll have time to think about it tomorrow." 

Marinette just nodded. Maybe she was just overreacting. Adrien wouldn't hate her.

Right?

.

Adrien woke up the next morning hugging his pillow. He sat up, turning to look at his window. To his surprise, the window Ladybug used was mostly open. Ladybug always closed it the best she could.

He noticed Plagg flying across the room through the corner of his eye.

"Hey, Plagg?"

"What?" Plagg mumbled, flying to his precious cheese. 

"Did you see Ladybug leave?" he asked. 

Plagg sighed happily, landing on his cheese. "Hm? You say something?"

Adrien sighed. "Did you see Ladybug leave?" he asked again.

"Yeah, she left in a hurry."

Adrien frowned, "In a hurry?"

Plagg nodded, taking a big bite of his cheese. 

"Yup, got up, transformed, and left."

Adrien looked back at the open window. Why would she leave in such a rush?

He said he loved her back. Now he couldn't help but worry that he messed something up. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for taking so long in updating and for a short chapter, I've just had zero inspiration lately, for both art and writing. 

I just wrapped up the semester so I am  d r a i n e d 

So, so many essays