Getting to know his Lady without her mask was a fun and refreshing experience.

Not that Adrien didn't know Marinette that well before she became Ladybug; he hasn't prepared himself to rediscover how amazing and overwhelmingly wonderful his best friend all throughout the years. He may have known her likes and dislikes since childhood, but there were still some things about herself that she hasn't disclosed to him yet.

A year of superheroing may have matured her physically and mentally, but in his eyes, his Marinette remained the same - from her passion towards fashion down to her inarguable sweet tooth.

His Marinette, Adrien snickered at his selfish thought.

Speaking of sweet tooth...

"Now I know the reason why Tikki favored you the most," the blond bemused as he observed how his pig-tailed companion swiped a chocolate buttercream from the mixing bowl then hastily swallowed it while feigning ignorance "'Coz you're both sucre for sweets."

Marinette narrowed her gaze with scrutiny "Did you just French swear at me?"

Adrien's grinned toothily when she cocked her hips "That's oui-sense, Buginette."

"Adrien," she slapped her forehead then groaned "Please stop."

"If you were a verb tense - "

"Oh God."

"- you'd be plus-que-parfait."

His laughs doubled over when Marinette kicked his shin then stomped back to the kitchen counter. She was mad at his antics, of course, but he couldn't help himself but tease her more because he finds her grumpy face the cutest in the entire universe.

"There will be no cakes for you!" she miffed with utmost annoyance "Not even a slice!"

"C'mon, don't be such a meany, my Lady." he cooed, trying to wrap his arms around her waist while dodging her painful swats "You can't deprive this Kitty with his treats."

"Not if the said Kitty deserves it."

Adrien was able to trap her easily, and when she stopped squirming, he began to nuzzle her crook like a cat scent-marking his mate. And with the rumbles that reverberated on his throat, he knew she'd swoon.

He was mortified at first when he learned that her feline tendencies have spilled out of his civilian persona as a Miraculous side-effect, and deeply ashamed when he started to display some uncontrollable cat-like behavior.

But for Marinette, she loved it.

'I've never had a pet before', she told him the first time she heard his purrs 'And I really want to own a cat.'

Ever since that confession, he began to pull out his kitty-like traits to win some favor.

"Stop using those eyes!" Marinette whined irately much to his delight "Okay, fine! You win!"

He didn't release her after that.

Not that she minded it anyway.

"Hey, Adrien?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here," she smiled at his embrace "For not leaving me alone."

The blond scoffed "We're partners, remember? That means we're stuck together."

Their moment was cut short when Plagg entered the kitchen and gagged "I think I'm going to puke."

Adrien stuck his tongue out while Marinette brushed herself away with a fluster.

"You're just jealous you can't do this with Tikki," he sneered at his kwami "So, what brings you here?"

"Master Fu is summoning you two in the war room."

Both teenagers went stiff as the atmosphere in the room shifted into something serious.

"What happened?" the raven-haired girl asked as she turned off the oven's dial.

After removing their soiled aprons and securing their goods, Plagg filled them in as they rushed towards their destination.

"Nyanderthal has been spotted five hundred meters away from Palais Garnier," he said, "Apparently, half of the population is now turned into cats."

"Wait a damn minute," Marinette halted her steps as she faced the black kwami "Are you saying that we're dealing a feline Akuma?"

"And an akumatized cat."

"An animal?!" Adrien gaped incredulously "Is that even possible?"

"Papillion can akumatized anyone as long as they have emotions. Take Robustus for example."

"Yeah right," he snorted indignantly. "So, what caused this cat to be akumatized? Fighting for a fish bone?"

When Plagg didn't give an answer, he deadpanned "So it is a fish bone."

"Why us?" his companion asked "You know that we're still under house arrest."

"Not only for the fact that you're able and available, you also have an innate ability to tame a cat. And you - " he turned towards the blond " - being that cat."

"Hey!"

As they entered the war room, the teenagers were appalled at the chaos that was happening on the monitor screens.

"There you are!" the elderly man in floral shirt approached the two "We badly need your assistance."

Just like what Plagg did, they were briefed again about the Akuma's abilities and its whereabouts, with additional details on parts that the black kwami missed to mention.

Before Fu could continue his explanation, Adrien raised a hand and asked: "Erm, does this mean we're both pardoned?"

"You two are on your best behavior these past few weeks," Tikki interjected as she walked towards them "And since you've been following the rules to the T, we decided to give your Miraculous back under one condition."

"And that is...?"

The red kwami crossed her arms with a huff "No more attempts to contact the outside world."

Adrien and Marinette stared at each other for a brief moment before they gave an answer.

"Yes."

.

.

.

.
It took them three Cataclysms and one Lucky Charm to defeat Nyanderthal, who happened to be a stray calico cat, only to be handed over to the Animal Shelter for re-homing much to the blond's dismay.

"You know that pets are banned in the headquarters, right?" Ladybug chuckled at her sulking partner "We just got our Miraculous back, Chaton. Don't make any attempts to break another house rules or we'll be out of commission again."

"So, how's the feeling after wearing your glamour back, my Lady?" he asked as he scoots over beside her partner.

"Happy, but not that much. You?"

"Purr-fectly feline." he smirked at his companion's inward groans "But seriously Marinette, I don't have much sentimental reason to wield this Miraculous aside from protecting you."

"You've sacrificed a lot for my sake," the girl muttered, turning her gaze towards the orange sky "I haven't done anything to repay you."

"You already have, my Lady," he smiled as he looked at the sunset view "By accepting me as your equal."

They were sitting on top of the Eiffel, with their spandex-covered legs dangling on the edge of the steel crane yet hidden from public's privy eyes.

"What if..." she bit her lower lip as if contemplating "What if I will offer you my heart?"

"Buginette, you don't need to force yourself to - "

Her spotted-clad hand immediately covered his mouth to stop his babbles "You don't understand, Adrien. I've loved you for years, and I still do, even if you see me as your good friend - "

"Hey!" he yanked her hand away from his lips "You know that's not the case, right?"

"I know, but our situation is different now. We're not Marinette and Adrien anymore - two normal civilians with a normal life. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir now, two Miraculous wielders on a mission to find Papillion and beat his ass."

Adrien snorted "Damn right."

"So, you see...we have obligations to the Order and duties to protect our city. That's why..." she paused to take a deep breath "That's why I can't simply commit to a relationship."

"Hey," the blond gently nudged her shoulder "I'm not on a rush, you know? We can take things slowly. Besides, we need to reacquaint ourselves and get to know each other. I'm fine by knowing that the feeling is mutual, and I don't mind waiting until you're ready. Wait a minute - "

"What?" she asked when her partner's demeanor changed.

"We can't go out as an official couple while Papillion is around, right?"

She nodded "Right."

"Can we defeat Papillion before we hit thirties?"

"Oh, mon Minou," the raven-haired girl giggled at his ridiculous pout "If we're motivated enough, we can defeat Papillion in less than a year."

Five months later, Ladybug and Chat Noir was able to capture Papillion and locked him for good.