I SWEAR I DID NOT PLAN FOR THE PROMPTS TO ALIGN LIKE THIS. This is hysterical.                                                                                                                       -Colorado

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Ladybug fell face first onto Adrien's bed. Akumas were exhausting. Especially when you couldn't rely on anyone but yourself. Chat Noir had been captured and she couldn't get the miraculouses of any other holder, so it was up to her. Things had turned out alright, but she was ready for a nap.

Adrien was in the shower when she got there, and she didn't feel like interrupting it. Because 1. she didn't want to see something she wasn't supposed to, 2. she knew how much he loved showering and didn't feel like stopping it, and 3. she honestly couldn't be bothered.

All she wanted to do was nap.

"Adrien, I'm out here." She called and she heard him yell back and turn off the shower.

"Hey LB, are you okay?" She heard him come out of the bathroom. A quick glance told her that his hair was already magically dried and he was fully dressed.

"I'm tired." She groaned.

"Yeah, I heard about the akuma attack on the news. Are you alright?" Adrien sat down at the foot of his bed, and rubbed her back.

"Physically fine."

"What about emotionally?"

"Just get over here," Ladybug grabbed his arm and dragged him down to the bed. "I want to nap."

"Okay." Adrien chuckled, his arms circled her as he kissed her forehead. "But only for about an hour. We've got plans tonight, remember?"

"Plans?" Ladybug asked groggily, sleep just about to claim her.

"We'll talk about them later." Adrien promised. "Just nap for now, I know how rough that fight was."

Ladybug nodded, drifting off into a sweet sleep.

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She woke up to a sore arm and a muttering boyfriend. She was confused for a split moment, before the memories of the afternoon hit her like a truck. The exhausting akuma fight, losing Chat Noir, the fight going on for over an hour, and finally falling asleep at Adrien's house.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, Ladybug." Adrien was saying. "I know how much you hate it whenever I sacrifice myself for you."

Ladybug knew she should probably stop him to prevent him from talking more. For some reason, alarm bells were going off in her head. She felt like she shouldn't be listening, but she was too tired to figure out why.

"And I promise, I'm trying to do it less for your sake, but sometimes it's necessary. I can't lose you, Ladybug. I love you too much to take the risk of you being gone. I can't lose you, too." Adrien continued.

'I love you, too, Adrien. But what do you mean about sacrificing yourself?' Sure, he had saved her once or twice from akuma attacks, but that didn't seem to be what he was talking about.

"You're the love of my life, Ladybug. And it's an absolute honor to not only be your partner, but your boyfriend as well. I hope one day I'll be able to share both sides of my life with you. Now get some rest, my lady." Adrien gave her another kiss on her head, before leaving. She could feel his weight leave the bed, and held back a complaint.

He had said partner. And that nickname he had used, too. No, there was no way. Absolutely no way. She was too tired to deal with this. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep.

And so she did.

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When Ladybug woke up for real, she had a bad headache. Her dreams had been filled with Adrien acting like Chat, Chat acting like Adrien, her memories of Adrien being replaced with Chat's face, and vice versa. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that she was even more tired now.

"Oh, you're awake!" Adrien turned to her from his computer. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yeah..." She gave him a shaky smile, trying to keep him oblivious.

On the inside she was panicking. She remembered every word he had told her while she was "asleep." She had heard what he called her, the dreams had confirmed her suspicions. Adrien Agreste and Chat Noir were one and the same.

Her boyfriend of almost six months and her partner of almost two years were one and the same. She rubbed her head, trying to clear the headache.

"Are you okay?" Adrien sat next to her, placing a head to her forehead. Ladybug melted at the gesture.

"I woke up with a headache, that's all." She gave him a small smile. "Don't worry about me, okay?"

"Okay." Adrien kissed her forehead. "There, now the headaches will go away."

"I don't think it works like that." Ladybug giggled, her heart exploding. She loved him so much.

But, he was also Chat Noir, someone that she cared deeply about, but she wasn't in love with him. Was it even possible for her to be in love with Adrien? Were her feelings for him genuine? If she only liked his facade, then was their relationship even real?

Sure, Adrien acted much more dorky around her than he did in interviews. She had seen him in his Ladybug themed pajamas enough times to know that he was not the perfect model she thought he was. It always made her love him more. 

So, did that mean she actually did love Chat then? God, why was this so complicated?

Ladybug let out a groan.

"LB? What's going on? Are you okay?" The cause of her trouble asked. Adrien looked over her face, his eyebrows scrunching up in concern.

She wanted to scream. Could he really stop being so sweet to her? It really didn't help her figure out if her love for him was real when he kept making her heart explode. Which would point to her actually liking him.

Why was this so hard?

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She was such a huge liar.

"Well good, I'm glad." Adrien grinned, warming her instantly. "Now come on, we've made plans for tonight, remember?"

"What?" Ladybug searched her brain for any memory of them making plans.

"It's the 13th, LB." Adrien gave her a knowing grin.

"Oh my gosh! Is it really? I'm so, so, sorry, I promise I didn't forget I just-!"

"Ladybug!" Adrien grabbed her hands, placing a kiss on each one. "It's okay. You were super busy with the akuma attack and literally just woke up."

"Happy anniversary." She said meekly.

"Happy anniversary, Love Bug." Adrien, obviously to her internal torment, gave her another bright grin. "Now come on! We have been planning to watch the sunset from the rooftops since our first month together." He pulled her out of bed. "And it's about time!"

"Okay, okay." Ladybug laughed. She would worry about the authenticity of their relationship later, when she had Tikki to talk to. Right now, she was going to enjoy her six month anniversary with her lovely boyfriend.

"Are you feeling awake enough? You're not going to fall asleep again?" He gave her a smirk that made Ladybug stop in her tracks. She had seen that smirk many times before. Both on his face, and Chat Noir's. A small smile grew over her features. They really were the same person, weren't they?

"I promise," she grabbed his waist and pulled him flush against her. He blushed, his eyes growing wide. "Ready to go, hot stuff?" She winked, and watched as Adrien choked on his own spit.

"Uh, well, I- uh, y-yep! Perfect! Absolutely ready." Adrien nodded his head frantically.

"Good." Ladybug placed a kiss on his nose before swinging out of his room.

"We're about five minutes away from the rooftop." Adrien said over the sound of the wind.

"Alright, you're going to have to let me know when to stop and turn and stuff." Ladybug kept her eyes on the horizon ahead.

"If you take a left at the next street, it's down a little ways away. There's a really good view of the Eiffel Tower from there."

Ladybug nodded. Before she would've been curious as to how he knew that information. Of course now, the answer seemed obvious. They were in the neighborhoods that Chat Noir patrolled and he had probably seen the view from the rooftop a hundred times before. Still, the thought of him specifically picking it out to show her made her smile.

"There!" Adrien pointed out a certain building that seemed to be separated from the others. It had a flat rooftop, which wasn't exactly the most common in these neighborhoods.

Ladybug gasped as they got closer. The rooftop was lit up by candles, each with a red rose nearby. A spotted blanket that Ladybug recognized as their favorite was set up, with two pillows taken from Adrien's bed. There was a picnic basket in the middle, probably filled with sandwiches or pastries.

"D-do you like it?" Adrien asked nervously.

"You did this for me?" Ladybug gasped.

"W-well, I remember you saying that you really liked surprises. It wasn't too much work, and I thought it would be worth it to deck out the rooftop for you. It is our six months after all, that's a big accomplishment." Adrien rambled as Ladybug set them down.

It looked so similar to the rooftop Chat Noir had shown Marinette. Ladybug felt her breath leave her. Adrien and Chat Noir were the same person, through and through. Maybe their surface level personalities were night and day, but the deeper level showed the same kind, compassionate, romantic, dorky man Ladybug had fallen in love with all those days ago.

"I love it Adrien, thank you." Ladybug squeezed his hands as they settled on the blanket.

Adrien began to unpack the basket filled with croissants, finger sandwiches, and macarons. Passion fruit and strawberry, their two favorites.

"I'm glad. To be honest, I was a little scared that you thought it would be too much." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well, it's definitely not." Ladybug scooted over to him, placing her head on his shoulder and grabbing his hand.

"Good. Well, go ahead and dig in!" Adrien picked up a croissant and bit into it.

That was another thing that didn't change between the two personas. They both inhaled food like a 19th century peasant.

"Alright." Ladybug took a macaron for herself, and settled against him, watching as the sun bathed the city in gold.

She nestled into her boyfriend's side as they shared a comfortable silence. Both of them snacking on the foods Adrien had prepared. As the sun turned Paris from gold with its rays to gold with its lights, Ladybug felt her breath escape her. It was times like these when she understood why Paris was called "The City of Love."

"Um, Ladybug?" Adrien broke the silence between them as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.

"Yes, Adrien?" She turned to see his face red and a nervous smile on his face. He was rubbing the back of his neck again.

"I actually have one last surprise for you." He said softly. "If that's okay?"

"O-oh, of course, Adrien." Ladybug felt her face grow red as her mind rushed with possibilities.

Had he gotten her a gift? Maybe he had made her something? Did he rig something with the Eiffel Tower's nighttime lights? Why did he look so nervous?

"C-could you turn around for me?" He whispered, patting the blanket in front of him.

"Oh, sure." Ladybug turned, scooting in front of him. She wished that she could see his expression as she watched the first level of the Eiffel Tower light up.

She suddenly felt something cold hit between her collarbones. She looked down to see a golden heart, with a ladybug made out of crystals in the middle.

"Adrien!" She gasped.

"I wanted you to have something that would remind you that I'm always with you. Don't worry, the chain is long enough that you can hide it under your regular clothes. It's a locket, you see?" Adrien reached around her to open the heart. "I put the picture we took the day we got together in it. I hope you're not too bugged at my gift?"

Ladybug stared at the picture. He had his arm around her, smirking at the camera. She was grinning as she held up a peace sign. She glanced up at him to see love shining in his eyes, nervous for her reaction.

The Eiffel Tower fully lit up, illuminating his features. Ladybug gasped.

She loved him. Oh God how she loved him. He was her partner, her Chat Noir. Nothing would ever change that. She loved every bit about him, from his punning habits to his unyielding kindness. He had thought of everything.

Oh God, she loved him.

"I love mew." She breathed, before grabbing his face and kissing him.

"Mph!" Adrien's hands flew back, but they quickly found their place around her.

He pulled her closer to him, deepening their kiss. Ladybug could've stayed like that forever. She had found him, her partner. And she loved him so much, no matter what name he used. Whether he was Chat Noir or Adrien Agreste, she loved him. She had found him.

"So, you like it?" Adrien panted, trying to catch their breath when she finally let him go.

"I love it! It's purrfect." She leaned into his embrace. 

"O-oh. Good. That's great, actually." Adrien tried to not choke, but Ladybug saying cat puns were dangerous.

"I uh, I don't have a gift for you tonight, but I'll get it to you tomorrow, okay?" Ladybug hugged him, a plan already forming in her mind.

"Oh, I don't need anything in return LB, trust me. The fact that you're here with me is more than enough." Adrien said softly.

"I know, but please? I insist." Ladybug fluttered her eyelashes, growing more and more excited by the second.

"If you're sure it won't be too much trouble." Adrien gave her a sweet smile, and she could see the gears turning in his head.

She laughed to herself. There was no way that he was going to figure out what she had in mind.

"Oh believe me, it's no trouble at all." Ladybug grinned, the final pieces of the puzzle clicking into place.

"Just what are you planning?" He smirked, leaning closer to her.

"I can't tell you that! It would ruin the surprise, goofball." She ran her hand through his hair. "Be patient, I promise everything is going to turn out perfectly."

"If you insist." Adrien shrugged, giving up trying to figure out what it was.

"I do, trust me."

"Alright. I can't wait." He squeezed her softly.

"Me neither." Ladybug breathed, looking out to the city, their city. 

The city that they protected daily. The city where she had fallen in love. The city where she had experienced her most treasured memories. The city where she had found her partner. The city where he would find his. 

God, she couldn't wait for tomorrow. If everything went her way, it would be an anniversary that neither of them would ever forget. Adrien had given her everything she had ever wanted, now it was time for her to return the favor. 

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Adrien walked into the class the next morning, feeling far too tired. Ladybug had ended up staying with him until the wee hours of the morning. After their picnic, they had gone back to his place and had stayed up watching cheesy rom coms.

He loved that woman.

He glanced around the classroom and brightened.

"Marinette! You're here!" Adrien cheered, walking over to her desk.

"H-hey, Adrien." She waved, a pink blush on her face.

Adrien loved Ladybug, he really did, but he couldn't deny how cute Marinette was.

"I know right, isn't it crazy?" Alya roped her arm around her best friend. "So, this is what Mme. Bustier's classroom looks like before the bell rings."

"Oh hardy har." Marinette rolled her eyes.

"Is there a reason why you're here so early? Like a meeting or something?" Adrien asked, smirking. Marinette stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why can't I just be early for once?" Marinette crossed her arms, turning away from Adrien.

"Hold up, we'll come back to why you're early later." Alya suddenly seemed to be staring at Marinette's collarbones.

"W-what?" Marinette sounded nervously amused.

"Your necklace! Who the hell gave that to you? Adrien, look at this!" Alya turned Marinette around, and pointed at the incrimination.

Adrien felt his world stop.

He recognized that necklace. Hell, he had paid for that necklace! It was a one of a kind, something he had to call in a favor to get. That was the necklace he had given Ladybug. He knew it.

Marinette gave him a small wave and a nervous grin.

"Um, hi...?" She giggled.

"Hi..." He breathed, seeing her truly for the first time.

"D-do you like my gift?" Marinette asked, fiddling with the locket.

"I-, oh my god." Adrien felt tears spring to his eyes.

"Adrien? Are you alright?" Marinette stood up, her hands hovering over his shoulder. Adrien saw the panic in her eyes.

He grabbed her, letting out a sob.

"I love you, so much." He sobbed into her shoulder.

"I love you, too." She whispered back, beginning to play with his hair.

"T-this is the best possible g-gift you could've given me." He cried.

"Good." Marinette sighed in relief, holding him tighter.

He had found his lady! Ladybug was right here in his arms and she was Marinette! The only person who could ever compete with his lady, was his lady! She was perfect. He was never going to let her go. She was the love of his life, it all seemed so glaringly obvious He had found his lady! Ladybug was right here in his arms and she was Marinette! The only person who could ever compete with his lady, was his lady! She was perfect. He was never going to let her go. She was the love of his life, it all seemed so glaringly obvious now that he knew. He loved her, he loved her so, so, much. God, he could not live without her.

Ladybug was Marinette and she was his. All was right with the world. 

"But..." Adrien pulled away, drying his tears. "What made you change your mind about me knowing?"

Marinette gave him a wry grin.

"Well, it's a funny story actually...." 

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i hope this was a nice pallet cleanser after yesterday. i'll heal your hearts after breaking them.                                                                                                                                     -Colorado