Pretty ^

[Narrator's POV]

Marinette's eyelids flutter open drowsily. She finds herself in a dim room, lying in a clean, white bed with heart monitors by her side and multiple cords connected to her arm. Memories come flooding back to her. The heart monitor next to her bed begins to beep rapidly.

"Adrien..." Marinette wheezes.

"Marinette?" Says a sleepy voice.

Marinette turns her head to see a blonde haired boy resting by her bedside. He lifts his head and blinks slowly, his bright green eyes widening at the sight of her.

"Marinette, you're awake." Adrien says in relief.

"W-Where am I?" Marinette asks.

"Marinette!" Tiki exclaims as she emerges from Adrien's jacket.

Tiki begins to fly towards Marinette when she is suddenly shoved aside by Plagg, who zooms forward and clings onto Marinette's cheek.

"Mari!" Plagg cries. "You saved his life! Thankyou so much for saving him!"

Marinette snuggles up to the crying kwami. "Plagg...Tiki...Thank goodness you're both okay."

Marinette strokes Plagg gently. Adrien watches in amazement as Plagg smiles and purrs.

"Plagg, you're never this nice around me." Adrien sulks.

Tiki giggles and cuddles up to Plagg. "This kitty has a soft spot for Ladybugs."

Marinette smiles down at her kwamis. The happiness is short lived after her focus returns to what had happened.

"Tell me...what happened?" Marinette asks.

Adrien's heart sinks guiltily. "Y-You gave all of your energy to me. I awoke to find you unconscious. Your brain shut down and your heart stopped beating. You've been in a coma for almost a month now."

"What about Paris? What about Ladybug?" Marinette panics, her heartrate increasing again.

Adrien places his hand over Marinette's and clasps it gently. The heartrate monitor beside her slowly calms down as she gazes into his eyes.

"Don't worry," Adrien says softly. "Without Hawkmoth to terrorise the city, we haven't been needed as much. No one has noticed your absence, so no one will connect Ladybug to Marinette. And don't worry about the hospital bills either, my father is paying for the finest doctors in Paris." At the mention of his father, Adrien's voice depresses remorsefully. "It's the least he can do..."

"Hawkmoth..." Marinette breathes.

Adrien lowers his eyes. "I...returned the butterfly miraculous to the guardian. I also begged him to let us keep our miraculouses."

Plagg interrupts Adrien with a snicker. "He was so dramatic about it. He begged Master Fu to the point of tears. You're the chosen ones, the miraculouses are yours. Of course you could keep them."

"Thankyou, Plagg." Adrien frowns at Plagg before continuing. "The observatory was completely destroyed. I told everyone that I had taken you there to see the stars when it collapsed in on us. No one knows about the battle, no one knows of our identities, but of course that means no one knows about Hawkmoth either."

Tiki crosses her arms. "As much as I want that man to pay for what he did to Nooroo, Gabriel Agreste knows both Ladybug and Cat Noir's identities so we must reason with him."

"Tiki, you're being too hostile." Plagg says. "It's not like he's blackmailing us."

"That's right, my father has promised not to tell. He says he wants to see you after you wake, he says he is eternally grateful for you saving my life..." Adrien's eyebrows crease painfully, disgusted by his father's actions. "But I wouldn't let him anywhere near you. He doesn't deserve to come crawling for forgiveness. Anyway, it's up to you, Marinette, if you want to arrest him."

"Whether he knows our identities or not, I was never going to tell." Marinette says.

"What? You're really okay with just letting him go?" Tiki questions.

Marinette looks up at Adrien sadly. "He's your father, Adrien. I couldn't take him from you..."

Adrien smiles weakly. "I really don't deserve you."

Marinette smiles bashfully, until remembering what Cat Noir had said when he rejected Ladybug. Marinette lowers her eyes, her smile fading.

"It's true that being orphaned would be most inconvenient." Plagg reasons.

Tiki huffs bitterly.

"Back when I was akumatized...I had just found out the unfairness of my mother's death. A cold darkness consumed my heart and I lost faith in justice. So in a way, I understand my father's feelings because I experienced them myself. Being lost in that darkness for as long as he was must have been painful." Sorrow swirls in Adrien's eyes, his heart aching. "But, straying off the right path and becoming corrupted is one thing. I will never forgive him for hurting you."

Adrien screws his eyes shut, trying to force back his tears.

"I'm so sorry, Adrien...I'm..I'm s-so sorry..." Marinette clasps her hands over her face, her shoulders trembling as she sobs.

"Mari, princess, why are you sorry?" Adrien asks sadly.

"Even with the ultimate power over creation and destruction, I-I couldn't save her...Even when I could sense and manipulate all the energy of the world, I couldn't feel your mothers presence." Marinette cries. "E-Even with all that strength, I couldn't do anything. I-I'm so sorry!"

Adrien takes Marinette's wrists and pries her hands away from her face. Her beautiful blue eyes are shimmering with tears. Her cheeks are red and wet, and her lip is quivering. It breaks Adrien's heart to see Marinette so upset over something she could not possibly blame herself for.

"Marinette...it's not your fault. I know that my mum is never coming back and I've dealt with that. You've helped me deal with that...You saved me, Marinette. You've saved me in more ways than one." Adrien says. "You bring warmth and love to my heart. You give me energy and strength. You make me happy, and support me when I'm sad. You've given me life, Mari, and now I couldn't possibly live without you in it."

Adrien places a hand on the side of Marinette's face and gently wipes away a tear with his thumb. He smiles as he gazes into her big, bluebell eyes.

"You're so beautiful..." Adrien whispers, partially talking to himself.

Marinette's heart skips a beat. Her cheeks flush pink as she stares at Adrien.

Marinette pushes Adrien's hand away weakly. "S-Stop that..."

"Stop what?" Adrien giggles.

"Making me fall for you..." Marinette answers quietly.

Adrien blushes, eyes wide with surprise.

"I'm so pathetic..." Marinette stares down at her lap as her teardrops sputter onto the white blanket. "I know that the illusion can only be seen through if you witness the transformation, but I still can't believe it's you...I can't believe you made me fall in love with you twice...I've been in love with you for so long; even when I finally moved on, I was really just falling for your other half."

Adrien's chest aches with guilt. Tears well up in his eyes, but he smiles light-heartedly.

"You're one to talk." Adrien says softly.

Marinette looks up at Adrien.

"The other girl who stole my heart from Ladybug...It was you, Marinette." Adrien says.

Marinette's breathing slows, her cheeks turning a rosy pink.

Tears spill from Adrien's eyes as he surveys the girl in front of him. "I'm so stupid..." Adrien tilts his head back and covers his eyes with one arm, tears flowing down his cheeks. "I really messed up...didn't I?"

Marinette opens her mouth to speak when she hears footsteps from outside her door. Adrien quickly wipes his face and stands up, the footsteps growing louder.

"I've got to go, princess. I'm not meant to be here." Adrien says. "Plagg, claws out."

"Wait, no, I want to stay with Maarriiiiiii...!" Plagg says as he gets sucked up into Adrien's ring.

Green light slices through the shadows of the hospital room as Adrien transforms into Cat Noir. Marinette cannot tear her eyes away from the miraculous beauty. The newly transformed Cat Noir turns to leave before hesitating. He looks back at Marinette sadly.

"Get better soon...yeah?" Cat Noir says.

Marinette nods silently, still transfixed by her overwhelming love for this boy. Cat Noir still doesn't move, his eyes locked on Marinette. He takes a deep breath before quickly swooping down and planting a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll miss you." Cat Noir whispers before fleeing out the window.

Marinette stares out the window, her heart melting. She reaches up slowly and clasps a hand over her forehead where Cat Noir had kissed her.

"The...The girl he loves even more than Ladybug," Marinette says slowly. "It was me, Tiki...The real me."

Tiki smiles. "No kidding, he's been worried sick about you. I've had to stay with him this past month; I finally understand what Plagg means when he complains about Adrien always moping over his love life. He sneaks in here every single night like a stray cat to sleep beside you."

Marinette's heartbeat quickens. Tiki zips into hiding under her pillow as the approaching footsteps finally open her door. A nurse pokes her head in and draws a shocked breath when she sees Marinette sitting up in her bed.

"You're awake, dear." The nurse says sweetly as he bustles to Marinette's bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"When can I go back to school?" Marinette asks immediately.

The nurse blinks in surprise. "You're a strong one, aren't you?"

.

*Time skip to the next afternoon*

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[Adrien's POV]

Class ends but I stay seated, staring blankly at my desk. I haven't been able to concentrate in school. I don't even know why I bother coming, it's not the same without Marinette. Probably just to avoid seeing my dad as much as possible. He still hasn't apologised to me. I don't know if he is too proud or too awkward, but he just busies himself with work instead. I like it better that way anyway.

I sigh as I turn to look at Marinette's seat behind me. It's almost symbolic, isn't it? Of the way I have had my back turned to her this whole time. I'm such an ungrateful fool—a goddamn idiot. I managed to break the heart of the girl I love a million times over without even knowing it.

I think back to when Ladybug was distraught and heartbroken during the LadyNoir festival. She was crying because the boy she loved only saw Ladybug. I told her how stupid he was, I told her he had no idea how lucky he was. I was right...I had no idea how lucky I was. I told Ladybug that if I knew her true self I would recognise her and love her all the time. I did, eventually, but only too late. Only after I had repeatedly broken Marinette's heart. I messed up...so badly.

I recall all of the beautiful things Marinette said about Adrien when she confessed her love to Cat Noir. How could she still think so highly of such an ignorant idiot? There's no way she could love me still. She deserves better...

I remember the look on Ladybug's face when Cat Noir rejected her. Me, who had pledged his undying love to her, only to tear it away. I broke her heart again that day. I hurt her so badly that she got akumatized. How could I ever expect her to forgive me?

I grab my bag sluggishly and make my way outside, staring down at my feet as I walk. I can hear the showering rain. I didn't bring my umbrella, but I don't care about getting wet. As soon as I step out of the school entrance, my hair and clothes become drenched. I close my eyes and feel the pelting rain on my skin, when all of a sudden it stops...

I look up to see Marinette standing in front of me, thick locks of wet hair sticking to her face as she holds an umbrella over my head.

"Mari! You're out of the hospital." I observe, my spirits lifting a little.

Marinette smiles and tilts her head slightly. "My kitty told me to get better soon, I had to come see him."

My heart skips a beat.

"Y-Your kitty?" I repeat, my cheeks blushing.

"Of course, chatton. With or without the mask." Marinette says. "I hope that I'm still your bugaboo."

"O-Of course! I..I..."

I'm lost for words...

It is suddenly brought to my attention that Marinette is getting soaked in the rain. I clasp one hand over hers holding the umbrella and wrap my other around her waist.

"Come here, you're gonna catch a cold." I say as I pull her in close.

The umbrella suddenly snaps shut around us, pushing our faces just inches apart. My cheeks burn up as I stare down at Marinette. Little droplets of water sparkle on her eyelashes as she batts her eyes. I'm so close I can count each and every freckle on her cute little nose.

Marinette suddenly bursts out in a fit of giggles. The sweet sound makes my heart flutter. Her smile is so cute...

As I stare down at Marinette's glossy pink lips, memories flash through my mind— First Ladybug kisses Cat Noir during the battle against Dark Cupid, then Ladybug kisses Adrien during the Sports Carnival, then Marinette kisses Cat Noir during New Years—So then, for the first time, I kiss Marinette.

Marinette blushes, her eyes wide with surprise, but her eyelids flutter shut as she soon relaxes into the kiss. Her lips are soft and wet from the rain, my tongue slips through them easily. She tastes delicious, like strawberry, the taste that I have come to crave. I wrap my arm around her waist tighter, deepening the kiss. Marinette breathes a gasp as our lips part.

"Is it too hopeful for this oblivious idiot to beg for your forgiveness?" I say with a huffed breath. "Because it would make me the happiness man alive if you would allow me the honor of being your boyfriend."

"Of course, Adrien." Marinette whispers happily.

Her hot breath on my lips sends shivers down my spine. Marinette's mouth stretches into a smile as she clutches my face and snatches up my lips in another passionate kiss.

"Hmph!" I murmur in surprise as Marinette takes dominance.

She runs a hand through my hair and twirls a lock round her finger. "Hmm, I love you so much..." Marinette mumbles against my lips.

I suddenly pull away to look at Marinette, who blushes in embarrassment.

"S-Sorry, I—"

"Say it again." I implore.

"W-What?" Marinette stutters.

I kiss Marinette softly and look deeply her into eyes. "Say it again...please."

"I-I love you...?" Marinette says hesitantly.

"No," I giggle. "Say it like you mean it."

Marinette inhales deeply as she gazes into my eyes. "I love you, Adrien."

A broad grin stretches across my face, I can't help it. "You're so cute! Tell me you love me again."

"What? No, I already said it three times now." Marinette says playfully.

"Please, the words sound so sweet in your voice." I beg as I pepper her with kisses.

"W-Why don't you say it?" Marinette replies.

I kiss Marinette's jawline, making my way up to her ear. "I love you, Marinette." I purr into her ear, making Marinette grow hot. I smirk as I pull away to look at her flustered face. "I'll shout it from the rooftops if you really want me to."

Marinette breathes a soft laugh. "Please don't—"

I throw my hands in the air, knocking aside the umbrella we were sharing. "I love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" I exclaim into the rainy streets of Paris.

"And I love you Adrien Agreste, but you're getting soaked." Marinette giggles.

"I don't care. You make me so happy I could go tap-dancing in the rain!" I continue to shout. "This girl right here—she means the world to me!"

"Shut up!" Yells some cranky old woman.

"Pfft—Ahahahaha!" I burst out in laughter.

"Okay, okay, you've proven your point." Marinette laughs as she steps up to me, holding the umbrella over us once more.

"My precious little bugaboo, you have no idea how happy you make me." I whisper as I peck her nose. "My beautiful princess...I'm sorry that I took so long, some prince charming I turned out to be."

"Shh, mon chaton d'amour (my love kitten)." Marinette hushes softly. "I don't love you because you're perfect, I love you for being you— Whiskers and all."

I giggle softly and rest my forehead against Mari's, brushing our noses together slightly. Marinette leans up and kisses me, slowly and tenderly...perfectly lovingly.

*Bonus Scene* [Narrator's POV]

As the young couple shares a tender kiss in the rain, someone else is standing under an umbrella not too far away.

Nino smiles to himself. "Operation Get Close With Marinette, completed."

"Those two are made for each other, don't you think?" Says a voice from beside him.

Nino looks down to see an old Chinese man wearing a red Hawaiian shirt.

"Oh yeah, totally—Adrien and Marinette are as iconic as Ladybug and Cat Noir!" Nino says proudly. "You know, I like to think I brought them together."

Master Fu smiles and strokes his beard. "Yes...you will make an excellent successor."

"What was that, old dude?" Nino says as he watches over his two friends.

"Oh, nothing." Master Fu slips a small box into Nino's bag before waddling away. "For now, we part ways, Wayzz. Good luck."

.

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Get it? Get it! It ended the same way the love story started only Marinette and Adrien both get closed under the umbrella and kiss, and Nino is watching over them like Master Fu was and AHH I'm a genius. Can't you just imagine Nino tilting his umbrella up to reveal a smug smile like the shipping god that he is. I hope you enjoyed :)

Also, can we just appreciate that my chapter "The Grand Ball" is pretty much Season 2 Episode 2 of MLB "Despair Bear" in which Chloe tries to turn over a new leaf and be nice by throwing a party. I hope the rest of my book comes true lololol