"Has Tikki ever spoken to you about the soulmate prophecy?" Chat Noir asked, sitting on the rooftop and popping another macaron in his mouth. This one was coffee and a little too tangy for his taste. He grabbed the takeaway Boba cup beside him and used it to remove the lingering bitterness from his tongue, stopping him from doing something embarrassing like heaving over a macaron.

"Not a fan of that one kitty?" His partner said, popping one into her own mouth and wincing too.

Quickly, she grabbed a napkin and spat out the remains of the delicacy before swilling out her mouth with her own drink.

"I swear, they don't usually taste like that, Chaton."

He laughed before finding the orange coloured one he was always fond of. Passionfruit.

"So has she?" Chat Noir repeated, glancing at his partner and waiting for a response.

"Surprisingly, no! Care to explain."

"Well, apparently the Miraculous work on a soulmate-to-soulmate basis. Each Miraculous has a partner, an equal, and it just so happens you're mine." He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing the masked heroine to smack his arm in response.

"Be serious, Chat Noir."

"I am," he laughed, hovering his fingers over the macarons before making his next choice.

"So, you're telling me, because we were chosen to wield these specific Miraculous', we're soulmates."

"I don't make the rules, Bugaboo."

"Well, you definitely don't follow them," she snorted, grabbing a macaron of her own and popping it into her mouth. Mmm... Strawberry.

He let out a low chuckle before taking another swig of his drink. "But in all seriousness, what do you think that means?"

"I think you're overthinking this. I mean, soulmates don't always have to be romantic you know, they can just be platonic. We get on well. We'd do anything for each other, but we're not in love," she laughed. "After all, I have a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend. Unless you're lying when you say you love her, I can't see us being anymore than just... this. Just friends."

Chat Noir nodded, before looking over to her. "I'm guessing the same can be said about your boyfriend."

"Definitely, I want to be with him for the rest of my life."

"That's good to hear," Chat Noir responded before pouting. She sighed as she looked at him. "Just say it," she said, glaring at him intently.

"There's nothing I want to say."

"Your face says differently."

They sat in silence for the moment, both looking at each other and thinking... well at least he was.

"Okay, hear me out," he suddenly said, causing Ladybug to almost jump off the rooftop. "What if this whole soulmate thing is real and you and I are destined to be together romantically?"

"Chaton, come on its —"

"Please let me finish," he interrupts. She nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"Okay, so the soulmate thing is real and we will be, or we are already together. How do you know I'm not your boyfriend?"

Ladybug snorted. "I think I'd know if I were dating you, you're not exactly inconspicuous."

"Hey! That offends me, deeply."

"But it's true. I'd be able to tell your level of extra anywhere."

Chat Noir pouted again and moved back onto his bottom. "You're kinda like my girlfriend, though. You're both amazing and humble, and have the most purrfect pink lips."

Ladybug snorted beside him. "It seems you have a type. Does she happen to have blue eyes and black hair too?"

Chat turned his head to her to speak, stopping himself mid sound and tilting his head. "Huh?" he huffed, narrowing his eyes at hers.

"Stop it!" she giggled. "I can see you're trying to project."

"I'm not projecting anything, it's just a little uncanny. Maybe I do have a type... or maybe...."

The giggle drifted away into the night sky as she continued to stare at him, her own head now tilting from side to side. He couldn't help but wonder if she was now thinking the same thing too... that maybe he was her boyfriend.

Oh, man! He should have just kept his mouth shut.

She was most definitely studying his face. Staring at it with such an intent he felt himself get slightly flustered by the glare, right up to the point she screwed up her nose.

"Naa," she finally said, going back to eating her macarons. "You couldn't be him, you're completely different."

"In what way?"

"Well, he's the kind of guy you take home to meet your parents; you are the kind of guy you rebel against your parents with!"

"What!?" he shrieked. "I'll have you know, parents love me! Seriously, my girlfriend's parents think the sun shines out my ass. They've already got me lined up in the family business."

"They obviously haven't heard you talk out of it, then?" She snorted at her own joke and he could feel the anger build inside him.

"Hey! I'm a wonderful boyfriend." Suddenly, Chat Noir was on the defence. How dare she imply he was a 'bad boy'!

"I never said you weren't. It's just that if I took you home to meet my parents I'd be worried about what you'd say. You're not exactly house trained."

His mouth dropped open and his eyes almost popped out of his head. "Are you saying I'm a - a stray?"

"I think I'd word it 'free-spirited'."

"I'm not going to lie, M'Lady, I'm getting quite offended by this conversation."

She leaned over to hug him. "I'm sure your girlfriend loves you for you."

"She does," he said on the defence. This conversation was not going the way he expected. "And like I said, she's very similar to you."

"And like I said, you clearly have a type."

They continued to eat and drink for a while. Chat Noir looked out into the distance as he contemplated what to say next; however, the sigh from the girl beside him took the conversation out of his hands.

"Okay, so say there was some sort of weird connection that joined us together, I would think it would be easy to tell if it's our boyfriend or girlfriend. I mean, I don't know about your situation, but I spend a lot of time with him and I think I'd know if he were you as I spend a lot of time with you too."

"That is true. So, where is he now? Whilst you're on patrol?"

She pouted and scrunched up her nose. "I don't know. I just told him I was busy this afternoon and he didn't even question it."

"Oh? Could that be: A - he doesn't care, B - he has his own plans, or C - it's me?"

She looked at him again before busting out laughing. "You're not going to stop are you?"

Chat Noir shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "You'd be lucky to be dating me."

"Obviously my Ladybug luck has run out then, because it's not you."

"If you say so. I'm devilishly handsome behind this mask. I have the face thousands, thousands of girls want." He raised an eyebrow and looked out over the distance, Ladybug turning to look at him and he could feel every fleeting glance she took.

"Pfft, nope! You couldn't be him nope... nope... nope."

Chat Noir turned to face her, this time she was looking out in front of her, straw in mouth and sucking it rather aggressively. He couldn't help the overwhelming thought that this could be Marinette! He'd thought it before and studying her now, plus the timing of her relationship and the stories, there was a very high possibility she was her! He just needed to prove it.

*****

As soon as he arrived back at the mansion, he headed straight for his wardrobe; he had the most perfect outfit to wear to college tomorrow and she had no idea what was about to hit her. He was 94% sure that Marinette was Ladybug, he'd guessed it before and the similarities were far too prominent to ignore. The remaining 6% was nagging him that he was actually projecting one girl onto the other.

The hair — check.

The eyes — check.

The attitude — check.

The way she made his heart flutter — check (and god so help him that it was the same woman. He wouldn't want to be seen as a cheat.)

She was everything Ladybug was, and more... why? Because she loved him. She had always loved him. He was the other boy, he was Buttercup and he'd made out with her many, many times in and out of suit – delightful by any standards.

Moving the hangers in his wardrobe from side to side, he continued to look for specific items of clothing. Ones that were certainly going to blow her socks off. She called Chat Noir a 'Bad Boy', well, she ain't seen nothing yet.

Finally placing his hands on his leather jacket, he pulled it out and dusted it down a little. He'd worn it once for a shoot and asked to take it home. He never knew if one day he'd have to dress as a film character — his heart set on 'The Terminator'.

"Do you really think this is a good idea? Not only could you freak Pigtails out and send her running in the opposite direction, you might even reveal your identity."

Adrien studied Plagg's face, eyes narrowing as he attempted to work something out. Pigtails... pigtails? Has Plagg ever used Marinette's real name?

"Who might run away from me?" Adrien asked innocently, taking his clothes and positioning them on the back of his office chair ready for the morning.

"Pigtails... your girlfriend!"

"Ummm..." Adrien considered, moving himself onto his bed and climbing in. "I don't think that's her name. I've never dated a 'Pigtails'."

Plagg rolled his eyes before moving towards his side of the bed. "You know exactly who I mean!"

"Nope," Adrien claimed. "I haven't got a clue. Could you give me a hint?"

"She has pigtails!" Plagg said again, Adrien trying to hold in his laugh as the kwami seemed to get more and more exasperated.

"Oh, you're Talking about Aurore? Naa, I won't be seeing her tomorrow and I'm not dating her so it's all fine."

Plagg let out a strange squeal as he looped around in a circle and collapsed on the pillow. "You're doing this on purpose!"

"I'm not doing anything," Adrien laughed, turning to face him. "It's not like I'm trying to get you to say my girlfriend's name or anything, because that would just be weird."

"I can say her name, I just don't want to."

"I'm sure you can." Adrien rolled onto his back, trying his hardest not to smirk.

"I can! I just prefer pigtails."

"I'm sure you do." Adrien could hear the rumble of a growl next to him. "It's not like she's a Miraculous holder or anything and to keep her safe you can't say her name. Goodnight, Plagg."

As Adrien turned once again to grab his phone and text Marinette 'Goodnight' he couldn't help the grin stretch from ear to ear. He was right! He knew he was right! And tomorrow he was going to prove it.

*****

Marinette had had the worst night ever!!! Not only was it too hot (thank you ridiculous summer heatwave), but Chat Noir's soulmate prophecy had her mind reeling.

There was no way Chat Noir was Adrien Agreste! She would have had to have crossed over into the Twilight Zone for that to have happened.

"Marinette, did you sleep at all last night?"

"Nope." Marinette felt the room sway. She closed her eyes to try and steady herself only to regret the action immediately and reopen her eyes before she threw up. "I had to make a list."

She glared down at the table in front of her, her eyes doubling over and making the letters bounce across the paper. Woah! Maybe she should have at least tried to get an hour or two sleep last night.

"Marinette!" Her mother's voice shouted up the trapdoor and into Marinette's room, the raven haired hero groaning at the thought of going to college. "Marinette!" she shouted again.

"Coming Maman!"

As Marinette stood up, her bearings weren't quite right, her body moving one way when really she wanted to go the other. Toppling over, her body went over her chaise lounge, legs remaining in the air.

"Do you think it's a good idea to go to college today? You're going to end up hurting yourself, Marinette!"

"I'm tip top, Teeks! I just need to get dressed and I can go and see my boyfriend, who, may I add, is hot! And then prove to Chat Noir, that even though my list disagrees, he is NOT Adrien hotty Agreste!"

"You made a list? Oh, Marinette!"

"It's all good Teeks! My list just proved that they are not the same. Here!" Marinette rolled off the chaise lounge and headed back over to the desk, only hitting the ladder and her mannequin on the way over.

Collapsing in her desk chair, she flew back a couple of feet before digging her heels into the ground and dragging herself back. "Here!" Marinette said, grabbing the paper and waving it in the air.

"If you see," she said, slamming the paper back down onto her desk and pointing at it quite aggressively. "Chat Noir is kind, caring, handsome and selfless. Adrien, however, is good-hearted, affectionate, beautiful and compassionate. Complete opposites!"

Tikki looked at her eyes wide and mouth opening and closing like a guppy. The action just made Marinette giggle, stretching up and tickling her kwami's tummy.

"You're so cute!" Marinette stood up, and walked in a not so straight line to her wardrobe, diving in and throwing clothes out and all over her room.

"You do realise, you wrote the same things for them both – you just wrote synonyms for each word."

"What? Noooo!" Marinette giggled, finding her Chat Noir themed dress and squealing with joy as she pulled it from the wardrobe. "Kind and good-hearted are completely different words."

"Marinette!" her mother called her again and she began to get changed, falling over her chaise lounge once more. It was going to be a very long day.

A few minutes later, Marinette stumbled her way out of the bakery and over the road towards college. She may have almost been knocked down by a car (who decided red meant don't walk, anyway?) but she was almost there, almost in her wonderful boyfriend's arms... her boyfriend who was a hero once and terrible at it! Her boyfriend who was not Chat Noir. Her boyfriend who –

"Holy mackerels!" Marinette's feet refused to walk anymore, instead planting themselves firmly into the ground as she looked at the view in front of her.

Adrien stood on the staircase and she swore the sun shone brighter over his head. He was wearing thick, black rimmed sunglasses, a black leather jacket and tight fitting black ripped jeans. Yikes! She was sure if she was a cartoon her eyes would have zoomed out of her face and that weird horn blasting a noise behind her. He looked deliciously handsome; black suited him wonderfully – almost as if he was created to wear it.

Willing her feet to move, she continued her stride forward, her eyes firmly placed on Adrien as she tripped and stumbled towards him.

When she was only a few feet away, a group of girls headed in his direction. Swarming around him and asking for photographs. That was her man and they needed to back off.

"Out of the way!" she announced, walking forward and pushing anyone in her path. Girls began to stumble down the staircase, chorused by shrieks of pain as she manhandled them out of the way. "He's my man, ladies! Go and get your own."

Taking another step forward, her foot caught the step in front, sending her flying into Adrien's chest and taking him down onto the hard concrete, Marinette lying on top of him.

"Are you okay Marin –"

His sentence was cut short as she straddled his lap and smiled down at him. "Well, hello hot stuff!"

Not even waiting for a response, Marinette grabbed hold of either side of his face and planted her lips firmly against his, pulling him close without a care for who was watching.

*****

As Adrien came back to his senses, he moved his hands onto her hips, tensing his arms and using what strength he had to move her away from him. They weren't a PDA couple. Sure they'd walk around holding hands, or hands in each other's back pockets, but they didn't make out on the college steps.

She wasn't moving. When did she suddenly get so strong?

After another slight shove, Adrien managed to push her off him, one hand reaching up to remove his sunglasses and look at her. The dark rims around her eyes made it completely obvious to anyone looking that she hadn't slept the night before.

"Marinette, sweetheart, are you okay?"

Her shocked expression suddenly morphed into a sad pout. "Do you not like me anymore? Oh my goodness, I'm a bad kisser, aren't I? I knew it! This is why our kisses don't last over 3.45 seconds, I know because I've timed them. I'm positive I brushed my teeth this morning."

She scrambled backwards, standing up and misjudging her step. Adrien watched as her arms began to fly crazily around in circles like a baby bird trying to fly, her foot balanced itself on the edge of the step and very close to sending her flying back down the staircase.

Grabbing an arm in mid flow, Adrien pulled her sharply towards him, wrapping his arms around her body and hugging her close. Her breathing was hoarse. Obviously from lack of oxygen as a result of the kiss and then the near death experience, and even though he wanted to make sure she was okay, to take her somewhere quiet (like back home) so she could sleep, he couldn't miss out on this great opportunity.

"Looks like you're falling for me, honey."

He looked at her face waiting for one of two reactions: the Marinette blush, or the Ladybug slap... instead he got a new option, one he wanted to experience again and again.

"Of course I am, hot stuff! You're just so purrfect!"

Adrien couldn't stop the groan from escaping his lips. Dear Lord! He never knew Marinette punning could be so wonderful. He moved his head down, ready to connect lips again in the most sensual of ways. Who cares if everyone saw it? His girlfriend had just punned and used one of —

Wait a second!

Adrien placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back a little. She was giggling. Really giggling! And seeing the way she was behaving, she had no idea what was going on!

"Marinette, how much sleep did you get last night?"

She giggled again, Alya making her way over and taking Marinette from Adrien's grasp. "Not enough," the red haired said, grabbing Marinette and leading her up the staircase.

"Alyaaaaa, no! I want to stay with Adrien!!! Just look at him, such a bad boy!" She punctuated her sentence with a purr and flick of the wrist. He had never wanted her more!

"Marinette, down girl!" Alya laughed. "Let's get you some coffee or something."

Adrien looked to Nino, the latter shrugging as they followed the girls up the staircase and into the main atrium of the collége grounds. Neither spoke as they continued to listen to the rather amusing conversation in front of them.

"How long did you sleep last night?" Alya asked Marinette as she manhandled the girl over towards the staircase.

"I had a really long blink."

"A long blink?" Alya replied, Marinette nodding so much Adrien thought her head was about to fall off.

"Oh, yes," Marinette replied. "It was like a whole 10 minutes."

Alya laughed then turned to face Adrien, a worried look on her face. "I'm not sure your girlfriend should be here today, Buttercup."

"Buttercup?" Marinette stopped sharply, almost pulling Alya's arm out the socket. "Don't tell him the secret code word! He'll know I've got a secret crush on him," she whispered loudly.

Alya looked towards Marinette, then to Adrien, and then back to Marinette. "He kinda already knows? He's your boyfriend." She raised an eyebrow as her friend broke free of the hold and collapsed to her knees.

"Nooooo!" she cried. "Now he'll think I'm just a lunatic, and we'll never get married, have three kids and a hamster. I'm doomed to live forever as a crazy cat lady, with just one big cat who has a ridiculous obsession with puns! I don't even think he's house trained." She collapsed into her hands and began to sob. No one had the faintest idea what to do.

"A talking cat?" Alya laughed, yet Adrien could perfectly tell it was fake. She'd pretty much outed herself to anyone who suspected it. "You're talking crazy girl! Lack of sleep really doesn't suit you! Talking about talking cats, how funny!" Alya's voice reached a ridiculous high pitch at the end.

Alya bent down slowly, Adrien standing puzzled and dazed as he watched his girlfriend, both completely unaware of Alix zooming her way through the crowds. Bending down, the small athlete pulled the girl to her feet and began to drag her towards the locker rooms.

"Looking good in leather, Agreste," she called over her shoulder, dropping him a wink as she continued on with a sobbing Marinette.

As the door slammed closed, Adrien attempted to figure out what the hell had just happened.

"What was that?" Nino came to stand alongside him, both now staring at the stationary door.

"I have no idea."

*****

Marinette took the drink from Alix, and with a little guidance from Alya, managed to swallow most of it. She was sure the red stain would disappear from her top at some point.

"What are you giving her?" Alya asked Alix, Marinette fixated on licking the sweet tasting liquid from her lips.

"It's an adrenaline based drink, I use it when I'm competing."

"Yes, but what is it?"

Alix shrugged. "Dunno. Kim gave me a box of the powder sachets for my birthday, and believe me when I tell you it hits the spot."

Alya picked up the cup and smelt it, her face wincing from the smell. Marinette snatched it from her friend's hands and used a finger to scrape some of the remaining minerals from the side of the cup, only for Alya to snatch it back and throw it in the trash can.

"Is it legal?" she asked, coming back to pick up the empty packets and the box. She made her way to the trash can, stopping as she noticed the caution sign on the back.

Do not consume more than 1 packet at a time.

"Alix?" Alya said, calling for her friend to come closer. Alix moved away from Marinette and headed to where Alya was standing at the trash can. "How many sachets did you put in Marinette's water?"

"Five, why?" Alix looked down at the box, fumbling her words as she tried to come up with some suitable reason for overdosing Marinette with caffeine.

The sound of the door slamming pulled their attention to the now empty bench.

Oh dear!

*****

Adrien didn't know what to do. Should he go after Marinette and check she was okay? Or just leave her to the girls to sort out? All he was sure about was Marinette was out of it... at the same time as outing herself.

If he knew sleep deprivation was the answer he would have done it a long time ago. Smiling to himself, he pushed his sunglasses into his hair and sat down at his and Nino's desk. Grabbing a pen and notepad from his bag, he couldn't help, but start to doodle little hearts.

AA <3 MDC

CN <3 LB

Adrien and Marinette Agreste.

Adrien and Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Adrien and —

"Adrien, I'm liking this new look." Without a moment's hesitation, Adrien slammed the notepad closed and looked up into the eyes of none other than the class critter — Lila Rossi.

"Thanks," he said through gritted teeth. He kept his hands firmly placed on his notebook, praying she hadn't seen anything she shouldn't have.

"I never pictured you as a bad boy, but this look..." She used a hand to fan herself down. "Phew, what's a girl to do?"

Trying to keep his cool, Adrien looked around for any sign of help. Why the hell did Nino decide now was the time to go to the toilet?

"Well, this girl knows exactly what to do! And it doesn't involve you, Parasite."

Adrien peered around Lila only to have the picture perfect vision of Marinette walking over to the desk, a look in her eyes he couldn't quite place. Her hair was still uneven, the bags under her eyes more pronounced, but it was the look in her eyes which had sent him into a pile of goo.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng wanted him, and if that glare was anything to go by he was certainly going to enjoy it.

She sauntered forward, seemingly in her Ladybug mode more than her Marinette mode, trailing a finger on the desk before pushing Lila out the way and seating herself firmly in Adrien's lap.

"Parasite!?" Lila sputtered, ignored by those around her as Marinette made it pretty obvious she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

"Lila, you're a germ. Get over it!"

Without any hesitation, Marinette grabbed the back of Adrien's neck and made her mark. They'd kissed before. Geez, they'd kissed a lot, but this... this was more than just a kiss. She was claiming him, and if this was her making her mark on him... well, he wanted her to do it everywhere for everyone to see.

The kiss deepened, but something wasn't right. He knew her taste. The sweet strawberry of lipgloss or macarons, this, however, was not Marinette. Pulling away he looked from her to the stain on her shirt.

"Marinette?"

She giggled in response before nuzzling into his neck. "Want to hear something funny?"

He looked at her curiously, unsure whether he actually did or not. "Um - yes?"

Marinette giggled again before turning her attention to Lila. "Be gone, leech!"

With a huff, Lila turned and stalked her way up to the back of the room, Marinette finger waving her off. Adrien couldn't help but think that went a lot easier than expected.

"She might be a bitch, but she has beautiful hair." His girlfriend let out a sigh as she watched the back of Lila's head.

Wide blue eyes turned back to him, and suddenly he could feel vibrations through his body. Was she bouncing? Literally bouncing?

"Marinette? Are you okay?"

Moving forward and giving him a quick kiss on his nose. "I am swell! Listen, shhh, I've got a secret."

A secret?!? Oh god, she was about to blurt her secret identity out in the middle of the classroom.

"I think, maybe we should go somewhere else?"

"Yes!" She sprung up onto her feet, and began to jog on the spot. "Let's go for a run! I feel pumped!"

"Marinette, what have you had to drink?"

"Just this strawberry milkshake. Tasted a little bit funny, but the aftermath..." In what he thought was an attempt to make an 'OK' sign, she instead, through a fumble of fingers and thumbs, ended up flipping him 'The Bird'.

"Let's just go outside and get some fresh air," Adrien said, standing and grabbing his bag. As he bent down, Marinette took the glasses from the top of his head and slipped them over her own eyes.

"Are you a flight of stairs, cuz you took my breath away." Placing one finger on the edge of sunglasses and flicking them up and down. She was going to be the death of him.

Swiftly, Adrien grabbed her by the waist and began to lead her out the doorway. He'd message Nino and see if he could make an excuse for them, but one thing was for sure – it was not safe for Marinette to be in class.

*****

Marinette had never felt so good! Not only did the world have some sort of bright glow around it, she had Adrien 'bad boy' Agreste, wrapped tightly around her body as he led her out into the courtyard, before leading her to the quiet spot, known as 'Make Out Point' (MOP for short).

"I always wondered when you were going to MOP me," Marinette stated, seating herself down on the bench and trying to look seductive. She placed her arms behind her, one foot on the bench and a purrfect pout on her lips.

"I'm not 'MOP'ping you, Marinette."

"Why else would you bring me here?"

He sighed sitting beside her. She took the opportunity, climbing onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You want to hear my secret now?"

She brushed her fingers through his soft, blond hair, feeling the silken strands fall through her fingers in the most delicious of ways. "What do you use on this?" she asked. "It's the softest thing I've ever felt."

"I'll let you borrow my conditioner sometime."

"How about I borrow your shower, with you in it!" She wiggled on his lap, his hands grasping hold of her hips and keeping her still.

"Now, about this secret," he asked through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to moan loudly.

"Secret?" she repeated, looking at him curiously.

"Yeah, you have a secret you want to tell me."

She studied him for a second, tilting her head side to side until...

"Oh yes! Chat Noir said you might be Adrien Agreste, but I told him 'nope!' You're only Chat Noir, not Adrien Agreste."

"O... K?"

"And then he had this rather absurd idea! That I am dating Adrien Agreste, and I was like, no way! I'm dating Chat Noir." She smiled at him, shocked that his face didn't quite show the same kind of pleasure she felt, what was wrong with him?

"Um - Marinette? Who are you speaking to at the moment?"

"Oh, Kitty, always the jokester." She slapped him on the chest before grabbing his head and pulling him towards her. "Now, kiss me!"

"Marinette? I think you might be a little... confused."

"Why? Do you think I'm not capable of kissing heroes? Because I'll have you know, I've made out with a superhero." She moved in closer, her lips brushing his ear and his hair tickling her nose. "I've made out with one 4 times. One was in my dreams, but you know what they say about hearts desires... and my heart desires your lips."

She moved in again, Adrien bringing his hand up and positioning it over her face.

"I'm taking you home!"

She tried to talk behind the blockade of his hand, only to be sorely disappointed when it came as a mumbled mess of vowels and consonants. He stood up, wrapping his arms around her to lift her with him. The removal of his hand finally allowed her to speak.

"Call me, M'Lady."

Adrien laughed and she wasn't quite sure why? He repositioned her over his shoulder before heading towards the exit.

"Now, why would I call you that?"

"Because you're Chat Noir!" she stated like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Well, if I was, I don't think I'd want you announcing my identity to the collège!"

"What do you mean if? I made a list and my list said you're Adrien Agreste."

"I'm taking you home."

Her protesting was ignored as Adrien strutted away from MOP and into the atrium of the collège, set on getting out of the building as quickly as possible. What was his rush?

Suddenly, a loud obnoxious voice sounded behind them. "Ahh, so the tapeworm reappears." Adrien spun around, Marinette's head continuing in another 360. Oh, man! She shouldn't have drank that drink.

At the top of the staircase, a woman who looked like a giant germ (Marinette laughed to herself) was firing off shots towards them. Every time the beam hit something, or someone, it turned them into a virus, affecting anyone else it came into contact with.

Adrien took the opportunity to run and take them down into the basement. He placed her down slowly, hiding them both behind a wall, his body pressing closely against him.

"Hello!" she said as sultry as she could, Adrien once again slamming his hand over her mouth. She giggled behind it before sticking out her tongue and giving his hand a quick flick.

"Did you just lick me?" Adrien hissed, looking at her. The disgust on his face only made her laugh more.

"You taste scrumptious!"

He lowered his head onto her shoulder and let out a deep sigh. "I need to get you out of here."

The only issue was, she didn't want to go. She was a superhero goddamn it! And she was determined to win!

"Spots on," she muttered, her body coating itself in tight red and... oh dear!

Looking down at herself, her usual simplistic suit had been altered. She didn't even know she could do that! "What is this?" she questioned.

Still fashionably wearing her red and black colours, her outfit had morphed into something Lady Gaga would be proud of. Thigh high black boots, red leggings with black wings stiffly placed on her hips, a black and red corset, thick black cuffs complete with gems... lots and lots of diamantés and studs. She looked hot!

Her hand reached up to her hair as she continued her exploration of her outfit, the high sleek ponytail, long and dramatic down her back. Oh yes! She always secretly wondered what it would be like to be a Dominatrix.

"Marinette?" Adrien whispered, moving back a little. She'd forgotten he was there.

"The name isn't Marinette, it's 'Marieta'. What do you think? Stud?"

She watched his mouth open and close, words unable to formulate.

"What are you waiting for, Kitty? Transform."

He stood still.

"Adrien, come on! I don't have all day!" She rolled her eyes and looked at him again. He was completely still. Oh, goodness! She hadn't gone after a statue again had she?

"Adrien!" The whisper-shout was a little louder than expected as a clattering was heard from the top of the staircase. She needed him to transform NOW!

"I — um — I —"

"What are you waiting for? Do you want to change your costume as well? Whatever it is, just do it!"

"That wouldn't be the best idea!"

The clang was heard again, Marieta grabbing Adrien and slamming him against the wall. The position was too perfect, and as she held him between herself and the rock, she lowered her lips and took great pleasure in taking his.

As she broke away for a well deserved breath, Adrien whispered the magic words. "Claws out!"

His body was wrapped and coated in green before black became the solid colouring – except for his hair. She stepped back to look at him, head slightly tilted to the side. "Huh, well, that was unexpected."

Marieta stood looking into the eyes of none other than Catwalker.

"Um — surprise?"

She grabbed hold of his ears and looked him over suspiciously. "You're not Chat Noir. Which means my list was wrong. Which means you have a twin. Which means —" she gasped. "I'm in love with Félix!"

"Oh, for kwami's sake! It's me Marinette — Adrien. I'm Chat Noir, but I'm also Catwalker."

"Pfft!" Air left her mouth as she started to giggle. "I know Chat Noir and Catwalker and there's no way you could be both. I would know!"

"As interesting as this feeling of Déjà vu is, we need to get out of here!"

Another bang was heard, Catwalker jumping back and grabbing Marieta's hand, pulling her out into the corridors and towards where the Akuma was.

"At least you look better than when you were an egghead!" she chuckled, ducking and diving the random attacks.

"We all can't be as cute as a mouse!"

She couldn't help but admire how strapping he looked in the suit, maybe they could have 'new suit' Tuesday's because she definitely wanted to see Adrien dressed like this again.

"If you like it that much, I'm sure it can be arranged," Catwalker laughed. She didn't even realised she'd said it out loud.

Unhooking her yo-yo, she launched herself into the rafters and began her dance of defeat. As if the world was moving in slow motion, Marieta ducked and twirled around. She grabbed people out of the way before they got zapped, she locked away the germs in the ball cage (much to the PE teachers dismay), stopped by Catwalker to give him a rather eye catching snog, all whilst wrapping the Akuma up in her yo-yo and swinging her from the ceiling.

As the akumastised object crashed to the ground and smashed open releasing the butterfly, Marieta quickly purified it and saluted to the gathering crowd applauding here.

"Marieta, out!"

Without another word, she crashed to the floor and into a rather deep, and much needed, sleep.

Marinette was quite sure the headache she was feeling at the moment was of equal discomfort as a hangover. Her mouth was furry and had a lingering dodgy taste, and her head felt like it was in the middle of a rather intense game of Ping pong — and she was losing.

A groan escaped her lips as she attempted to sit up. She placed one hand to her head as the other supported behind her. Opening her eyes she swore someone was drilling into her skull at the same time as trying to pull her eyeballs out. "Where am I?"

A black blur bounded up onto the bed beside her, the black leather jacket and jeans a tremendous sight for sore eyes.

"Marinette, thank god!"

She was wrapped tightly into a hug, feeling sick from the sudden movement of her head. "A-Adrien?"

"Don't ever drink anything from Alix again! Promise me!"

He moved back and away from her, her own lips twitching merrily in a dance of excitement. Hubba, hubba!

"Black suits you, you know? You almost look like..." she trailed off as her dream replayed in her head. Oh my goodness!

"Tell me it was a dream, please, Adrien! Tell me nothing happened and you don't know anything."

Adrien looked at her for a moment, his face fluctuating through a million emotions before resting on one. "Nothing happened and I don't know anything." He ended the sentence with a wink and she couldn't help but groan!

"I am so dead!" She hopped down off the bed, her legs not quite at the same speed as her body causing her to topple over to the side and into the medicine cabinet – Adrien not quite there quick enough to save her.

The crash of metal on the floor had the nurse rushing back into the room, Adrien helping Marinette up off the floor.

"I'm glad you're awake, Ms. Dupain-Cheng. Mr Agreste, would it be okay if you took her home. It might be best if she sleeps off whatever she's taken."

Nodding, Adrien looped an arm around her and swept her legs to cradle in his elbow. He began to carry her out, the nurse opening the door and wild applause hitting her ear.

"What the —"

Suddenly, the girls who were gushing at Adrien that morning ran over and started gushing at her! Why?

Red and black polka dot banners hung down from the rafters as people in cat ears chanted herself and Adrien's names.

"What happened, Adrien?" she whispered in his ear.

"You outed us. It looks like we'll never be able to wear those Miraculous' ever again!" he whispered back.

"Outed? Us? People know we've been together for a month now."

Adrien chuckled as he thanked people and kept on moving.

"You outed our Miraculous', M'Lady." As her nickname echoed in her head, she almost had a cardiac arrest. He had to be kidding! He had to be kidding!

"You... you're..."

"I am! Surprise!" He lowered her legs onto the floor, helping her to stand beside him. "It's just a shame we won't get to do our new 'costume Tuesdays'."

Adrien reached for her chin, tilting it towards where Alya stood with her phone screen blaring back at them. A phone blinded her sore eyes, as she attempted to focus and make it out. There — on the screen — was a picture of a different Ladybug dipping Catwalker in a rather dramatic kiss, but that wasn't all. On the back of this Ladybug's outfit was a giant heart and AA written inside.

With a trembling hand she reached up and flicked across the screen. A video began to play, Ladybug (or Marieta, as people were shouting) slowly transformed back into Marinette before Catwalker became Adrien.

The video ended and she could feel herself going lightheaded once more — this was Alix's fault.

Suddenly, Adrien's chin appeared on her shoulder, his hands grasping around her waist and leading her out of the doorway and back towards the bakery. Her mind spiralling out of control as thoughts of Adrien, Chat Noir and Catwalker do the Conga in her head. As bad as everything was, it was also really, really good. And to make it better, her list was right.

"You see, Marieta," Adrien said, dropping a small kiss to her neck. "The prophecy always comes true!"