Lol ^

Necessary episode knowledge: Season 1 episode "Animan", obvs

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[Adrien's POV]

I thought it was a good opportunity.

"Just be yourself and ask her out, dude."

I thought I could push her away.

"I'm not coming. You and Marinette will be alone at the zoo together."

But when those words left my lips,

"Just tell her...I love you, Marinette."

I knew they had spilled from my heart.

Oh, how I have been lying to myself. I wanted to hide those feelings. I wanted to avoid all the confusion that came with them.

"I don't like Marinette, Plagg. I-I'm in love with Ladybug. She's My Lady...I can't love two people at once."

But the more I tried to deny my feelings, the more they grew.

"Plagg...why does this upset me so much? Nino and Marientte will be happy together, right? A-And I'll be happy with Ladybug...right? So then, why don't I feel happy? Why does it hurt..."

And now I'm sprinting blindly through the city, my heart pounding with desperation. I'm out of breath and my legs are burning but I keep running. I have to go to her. I have to get there in time. Please...don't be too late.

Memories of Marinette rush through my mind, fuelling my burning desire. I can't let her slip from my grasp. I know now that I'll never be able to let her go.

My eyes widen when the Dupain-Cheng bakery comes into view. Nino and Marinette are talking together just outside. Laughing...smiling... He's going back to her place already? They can't have hit it off that fast. They can't...no. No! Please! I can't be too late!

I grit my teeth and push myself to sprint faster, tears stinging at the back of my eyes.

Nino looks up in surprise as I stumble to a stop, bumping into him a little.

"Adrien, dude, what-"

"Nino!" I exclaim, my chest heaving in and out with sharp breaths. "I-I need to tell you something. I haven't been honest. I need to confess to you, or rather, Marinette-Er, both of you!"

Nino grips my shoulders and looks into my eyes. "Adrien, calm down."

"I...I..." My eyes flicker between Nino and Marinette, my heart aching. "You can't..."

"Adrien, i-is everything okay?" Marinette asks softly.

I'm having a total meltdown! My heart is pounding like a jackhammer.

A teardrop escapes and rolls down my cheek. "I'm sorry!"

"Adrien..." Marinette says worriedly, taking a step forward. "What's wrong?"

"Why are you sorry?" Nino questions.

I gulp down the dry lump in my throat and force myself to say it.

"You can't date Marinette!" I cry.

Nino shifts back, startled by my outburst. 'D-Dude-"

"I'm sorry, I-I thought I was making everyone happy. But I wasn't. I'm miserable, Nino." I confess.

"Why...?" Nino starts.

My own voice echoes in my head, "Just tell her...I-"

"I love you, Marinette!"

Silence...

Both Nino and Marinette stare at me, their eyes wide with shock. I've probably ruined everything. There's no way Marinette likes me back. Not only have I ruined my friendship with Nino, but her too. I've completely embarrassed myself. But...I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. I couldn't just watch her slip away.

The bakery doorbell chimes as the door swings open.

"Okay Nino, I got the...napkins?" Alya walks out happily before stopping dead in her tracks.

Nino clears his throat awkwardly. "Adrien...I'd like to introduce you to someone-"

"I know who Alya is." I cut in.

Nino steps up next to Alya and continues anyway. "Adrien, buddy, this is my girlfriend...Alya."

Frozen. That's what I feel. Completely and utterly frozen. Shocked dead. My racing heart has flat lined. I'm so stupid that I think my brain has stopped working.

My eyelids flutter in confusion. "Huh?"

"Ladybug locked Nino and me in a cage together during the attack today and, well, we bonded." Alya explains.

It feels as though my entire being has shattered and blown away in the wind like dust.

"What's going on...?" Alya asks slowly.

"We'll, uh, be on our way then." Nino grabs Alya's hand and hurries off.

Now that Nino and Alya are gone, my attention is suddenly turned to Marinette who still looks shocked beyond belief. I begin to sweat nervously, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"L-Look, Mari, I'm sorry about all that. I just...I-I just..."

"Love me?" Marinette finishes, her breathing slow.

Now that the surprise has settled, Marinette is swirling with emotion. She gazes up at me with those beautiful bluebell eyes, a soft pink blush across her nose and cheeks. My heartbeat quickens. She's so cute! My tensed muscles relax as I get lost in her gaze. I take a deep breath and come clean.

"Yes...I do." I answer genuinely. "I love you, Marinette, and I couldn't stand the thought of you being with anyone else."

Marinette's blush reddens as I take her hand in mine.

"Please...I never want to feel like that again. Like...Like I'm going to lose you. I can't lose you." I say as I step up closer to her.

With my other hand, I clasp the side of Marinette's face and look deeply into her eyes.

"Marinette, please be mine and only mine." I say softly as I lean in closer. "Please...be my girlfriend."

"Yes," Marinette breathes before closing the gap between us with a kiss.