Necessary episode knowledge: Season 1 episode "Dark Cupid"
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The soft city lights of Paris create a beautiful glow on Cat Noir's golden locks, Ladybug thinks. Little does she know that he was thinking the same thing about the twinkling stars reflecting in her eyes. The midnight breeze flows through Ladybug's silky hair. As Cat Noir gazes at her, she can't help but notice how enchanting his electric, emerald eyes are.

"Your eyes are a gorgeous green, you know that?" Ladybug says without thinking.

Cat Noir blushes in surprise. He smiles softly and responds, "And yours are a beautiful bluebell."

Ladybug smiles and turns back to overlooking the city. Cat Noir surveys her closely, wondering if she really is the one...

"Gorgeous green...huh?" He says. "I bet you think my hair shines like the sun too."

"I suppose." Ladybug answers casually.

Cat Noir's heart skips a beat. A moment passes before he works up the courage to scoop up Ladybug's hand in his own. Ladybug looks down at their hands and then up at him.

"What is it, Chat?" She says.

"Ladybug..." Cat Noir gazes at her intensely, his voice almost a whisper. "Your hair is dark as night, your pretty bluebell eyes...I wonder who you are beneath that strong disguise."

Ladybug's eyes widen. "H-How do you know about that poem?"

"How do I know it?" Cat Noir says with a smile. "I wrote it."

Ladybug's heartbeat quickens as she surveys the boy in front of her. "Your hair shines like the sun..." She says slowly as her eyes travel over him. "Your eyes are gorgeous green...I look at you and wonder..." Ladybug clasps a hand over her mouth and whispers shakily, "Adrien...?"

A soft chuckle escapes Cat Noir's lips. "That's not how the poem ends."

Ladybug is too shocked to even respond.

"What I wonna know is how you got your poem delivered to the home of my secret identity." Cat Noir says.

"That's because...I wrote it for him." Ladybug replies.

"For Adrien?" Cat Noir's heart sinks. He had made a mistake bringing this up. Ladybug had written the poem for Adrien, not knowing he is Cat Noir. "So that's it, huh..."

"W-Well, you wrote your poem for Ladybug, didn't you? That's how it is, so...it doesn't matter then. Let's just forget it." Ladybug says painfully.

Cat Noir looks up at Ladybug in distress. "What? Why? A-Are you disappointed? Do you not love me?"

"Of course I love you!" Ladybug says. Her breath hitches and she clamps a hand over her mouth, her face red with embarrassment.

"You just don't love Cat Noir...right?" Cat Noir replies. "Are you just a fan of Adrien or something? Is that how you found the poem I threw away? Searching through the trash of a famous model."

"No!" Ladybug clenches her fists, words spilling from her mouth. "I don't love Adrien because he's rich or famous or attractive-I never did! I only grew to love him after getting to know what an amazing person he is...what an amazing person you are. You're kind and compassionate and intelligent. It's who you are that makes me love you, and I see you who are in Cat Noir too."

Cat Noir's breathing slows as he listens to Ladybug speak. Her words are so genuine, it warms his heart.

"Then why ask me to forget about the poems?" Cat Noir inquires sorrowfully.

Ladybug hugs herself self-consciously and lowers her eyes. "I thought you wrote it for me."

"I did." Cat Noir says, taking a step forward.

"No. You wrote it for Ladybug..." Ladybug replies sadly. "You don't even know who I am."

"But it's like you said, it's who you are that I love. If you can love this mangy alley cat, then I can love whoever it is behind that mask." Cat Noir says, stroking Ladybug's hair gently.

"But I always noticed both halves. You only see Ladybug...you would have no idea I even existed!" Ladybug says surely.

Cat Noir smiles. "Well, I know you found my poem in my classroom bin so you must go to my school."

Ladybug flinches.

"Hm-hm, I'm right aren't I?" Cat Noir smiles cheekily. "Now that I know where to look it'll be easy to find you."

"N-No! Don't go looking for me, Chat." Ladybug opposes.

"Why not? You seem so confident that I have no idea you exist." Cat Noir prompts smugly.

Ladybug averts her eyes nervously.

"I already know you, don't I? Quite well apparently given that you said you had fallen for me after getting to know me, and you talked as if you knew me personally." Cat Noir says, his mouth stretching into a grin.

"You don't know me..." Ladybug replies.

"I do, I've spent almost every day getting to know you. The girl I have fallen for is brave and selfless, smart, caring and extremely stubborn." Cat Noir strokes Ladybug's cheek and lifts her chin to face him. "How about we play a game? If I can find you then it'll prove that it's who you are that I love. And when I do, I want a reward."

"Fine. But since you seem so confident, you have to find me within a week." Ladybug says. "If my character as Ladybug is as strong as you say, then it should be easy to spot right?"

"A week? You're so generous My Lady, I could find you in a day." Cat Noir smirks. "So it's a deal?"

Ladybug crosses her arms. "Yes."

"I'll be home flicking through the school yearbook then." Cat Noir brings two fingers to his forehead and salutes before running off into the night.

As Ladybug watches after him, everything begins to catch up on her. Memories of Cat Noir flood her mind.

"This whole time...Adrien..." Ladybug wheezes weakly.

This whole time, it was Adrien behind that mask. Adrien flirting with her. Adrien who she kissed on during the battle against Dark Cupid! Her entire body boils with embarrassment.

The next day of school was torture. Marinette was already anxious around Adrien without knowing that he is secretly Cat Noir investigating into her identity. She was so on edge her heart wouldn't stop pounding. She was past stumbling and stuttering her words, she didn't even attempt to talk to him.

Marinette rushed out of school as soon as the bell rung at the end of the day. She heaves a sigh as she finally reaches her house. It's relieving to be at home, safe from Adrien's eye and Chat's investigations. Why did she even agree to this in the first place? Even if Cat Noir manages to find out who she is, Marinette is sure he will be disappointed...

Marinette climbs up into her room and shuts the trapdoor behind her. Just when she thought she was finally safe, she turns to see Cat Noir sitting in her desk chair.

"EEP!" Marinette squeaks, jumping in fright.

Marinette's heartbeat quickens. The boy who has stolen her heart, sitting right here in her room. She can feel her face growing hot.

Marinette gulps nervously and tries to act normal. "C-C-Cat Noir, w-wha..t are you doing here?" She stammers lamely.

Cat Noir stands up from Marinette's desk chair and places a hand on his chin as he begins pacing. "Well, you see, there is a particular girl in my class who has caught my eye. She is smart and talented, strong-minded, kind and sweet, but I still couldn't understand why I was so interested in her. It's not like it matters, I thought, because I was sure she didn't like me. She always seemed so on edge around me." Cat Noir stops pacing, a grin stretching across his face. "But now it's clear why she was always so nervous around me-She's in love with me." Cat Noir snickers to himself as he admires Marinette's wall of Adrien photos. "Still, I had no idea you had that big of a crush on me, m'lady."

Marinette's breath hitches.

Cat Noir turns to her with a soft smile. "And now it's clear why you had caught my eye, Marinette...because you reminded me of My Lady. I told you that I could recognise you. It's you that I've fallen in love with, all of you."

Marinette is shocked speechless. She stares at Cat Noir with wide eyes and blushing cheeks.

"Don't look so surprised, you only made it easier for me to tell by avoiding me all day at school today." Cat Noir smirks as he steps closer to her. "I told you I could spot you within a day," Cat Noir gives Marinette a bop on the nose. "Ladybug."

Marinette has turned redder than a Ladybug, but she still persists stubbornly.

"I-I...have no idea what you're taking about." Marinette says, averting her eyes. "I still don't know why there is a superhero in my bedroom."

"Isn't it obvious?" Cat Noir leans in so close that Marinette can feel his warm breath on her lips. "I'm here to claim my prize." He whispers before pressing his lips against hers.

Marinette gives up instantly, feeling her knees go weak as her eyes flutter shut. She wraps her arms around Cat Noir's neck and kisses him back, quite passionately to his surprise. The corners of his mouth curl into a smile as he grips Marinette's hips and pulls her closer to deepen the kiss. Marinette sighs as she runs a hand through his silky blonde hair. Cat Noir licks her bottom lip and gently bites it as he pulls away. Marinette gasps for breath, her cheeks flushed.

Cat Noir smirks. "Found you, bugaboo."