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  Marinette had instinctively hurried over to the Agreste Mansion. The day had went incredibly fast. And by now, Adrien's Fencing practice was over, and he would be home.

  Marinette dropped onto the roof and began pacing.

  She had initially intended to just swoop into his room as Ladybug. An idea that didn't contain much for thought, as it was spurred on by her emotions.

  But now that she was on his roof, a touch of nervousness had kicked in, and she had second guessed herself.

  As she started to peek past the roof's edge and into his room, she saw him transform.
  "Oh crap!"

  She jerked away and dashed behind a chimney.

  Seeing Chat catapult out and away, reminded her that they still had patrol. The specially arranged one that she had promised, in case he needed a friend.

  "This is it!", she said to herself. She was trying to build up some confidence. Even though she knew he was in love with her, she was struggling to confront him.

  With her fists balled up in determination, she added, "You can do this, Marinette! Just go up to him. Say, 'Hi! How did everything go?' And he'll say, 'Great! Everyone understood and no one is angry at me.' Then I'll say, 'Awesome!' " 

  Marinette shook her head. "wait! No, that's no good... Pawsome! I'll say, 'That's pawsome, Kitty!' And he'll laugh because I used a pun. Then I'll smile and say, 'Chat, I have something to say to you! I know who you are behind the mask!' And he'll say, 'what?? How did you find out??' And I'll say, 'Because we know each other in our civilian lives.' And he'll be shocked and ask, 'we do?? Then who are you, Bugaboo??' And I'll smile sweetly, then hug his arm and say, 'Adrien, it's me! Marinette!' "

  She clasped her hands together under her chin.
  "And then we'll detransform in front of each other and kiss!!! It's perfect!"

  Once more spurred on by her excitement, she leapt off the Mansion and hurried to their meeting spot.

  Adrien was pacing calmly along the beams that made for the Eiffel Tower's antennas. Marinette dropped down onto the beam, just a couple of feet from him.

  "Hi Ad- uh- KITTY!" She was already feeling anxious again.

  Chat smiled and bowed at her in greeting. "M'Lady! All went well."

  "Oh! That's great! Uh! I mean- uh- ... awesome...?"

  "I really appreciate... Everything. Thanks Bugaboo."

  Marinette felt her heart skip a beat. Her cheeks flushed red, her mouth agape.

  Adrien watched her for a second. Although he didn't mind at all getting to just stare at her beautiful face, he felt something must be wrong. Because SHE was staring at HIM.

  He tilted his head, his ears perked forward, and he smiled at her. "Is everything alright, M'Lady?"

  "Perfesplendilutely...", she mumbled quietly.

  Adrien stepped closer, so that only a few inches separated their faces. Her gaze hadn't budged from his. She looked as if she was in a trance.

  He grinned a little, in an attempt to register something else. A laugh. A smile. Or the usual press of her finger against his nose, when he came in such close range. But there was nothing but their eyes fixated into the other's.

  Feeling somewhat confused and uneasy, he finally pressed her OWN nose.

  Not that he wanted this to end. But if it lasted much longer, he would wind up kissing her. And after all those times she had discouraged him, he wasn't for sure she would be okay with that. Even though her CURRENT reaction to him seemed to be saying something else...

  Marinette inhaled at the touch and blinked. Her senses had finally registered with her mind again.

  Blushing all the more, she laughed nervously. "Patrol? We-uh- have patrol."

  "...Yeah."

  They spent the next hour just wandering around. And like Master Fu had said, she wasn't able to focus so well on her job. Twice, she had missed her goal with the yo-yo. And when a lost child on a street below was crying, she had just stood there, staring blankly at the kid. Chat Noir had to go help him, while she stayed in her daze.

  Inwardly, she was busy berating herself.
  All I have to do, is TELL HIM. Or SHOW HIM. Ughhhh! Why do I have to get so flustered around him?? Its simple! Just DO IT, Ladybug!

   Returning to the rooftop, he walked up beside her, where she stood on the edge.
  "Should we call it a night?"

  "What?? No- uh- why do you ask?"

  "You seem... A little distracted, Ladybug."

  "Because of you...", she mumbled. Then her face turned scorching hot.

  His eyes wide, Chat said, "I beg your pardon??"

  "I-I-I-I... I- um-"

  She swallowed hard, then said in a whisper, "You're the distraction." She even managed to look him in the eye after saying so.

  His heart fluttered at the implication, and the purring started up. He blushed at the sound. This purr was also emphasizing his attraction to her, instead of just plain happiness, and she would surely know that.

  And yet, she was smiling.

  Deciding to risk it, he leaned in for a kiss. And no more than an inch from her lips, he then felt her finger press against his nose. The purring ended abruptly and he glanced at her in disheartment.

  She looked strangely disturbed.
  "M'Lady? What's wrong?", he murmured.

  She glanced away. "Not yet. I- um- I have to go!"

  And with that, she tossed her yo-yo and left.

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  Authors note:
  Aaaaieeee!! I gotta read this again! 😂
  Editing this story is catching my attention again. Goodness, I like my own story. 😅😅

  Anyone else have this problem?👀😳😁😁