So I decided to rewatch Oblivio, as one does, and that's when I realized that although the famous Cardboard Chat Noir has many things the real suit does, it has one fatal flaw. So I wrote about it! Vote and comment if you've enjoyed!                                                                                                                              -Colorado

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While Marinette never enjoyed akuma battles, she had to say one of her least favorite of all time was the famous Oblivio battle. Although it wasn't the most emotional, or challenging, or boring, the pure confusion Marinette felt whenever someone brought it up was enough to solidify her distaste for the akuma.

For one, the argument she and Chat had gotten into before they had gotten hit wasn't fun. She never liked fighting with him, but sometimes he just took things a step too far. She was starting to suspect that he was a masochist just by the amount of times he confessed his love for her, despite her telling him over and over there was another boy.

Although recently, she could tell his declarations of love were less of a question and more of a statement. He no longer wanted a 'yes' to whatever the silent question was. He just wanted to love her. It was... sweet, even if she wished he could turn his attention to someone else. Maybe that civilian girl he's always talking about who she knows likes him and he definitely likes her back.

But she knew that it would be even harder to convince him to move onto her now that he had proof there was something more there, lingering underneath the surface and lying in wait.

Which was the second reason Marinette disliked the whole Oblivio debacle. They had kissed! She had willingly kissed Chat Noir and not for plan reasons, but because she wanted too! What had her amnesia induced self thinking? She wasn't in love with Chat Noir, she was in love with Adrien! Was her love for Adrien so fickle that all it would take was a memory wipe to fall for Chat? She knew that once or twice Marinette had wondered what it would be like to date her partner, but she always diminished the thought quickly. Now, she couldn't just ignore it with the reminder that there was Adrien, because to her Oblivio self, there was never an Adrien. Just her partner.

Would falling for Chat Noir really be that easy? If she just.... stopped resisting? Stopped thinking about what could go wrong? Could she really fall in love with him just like that? In the span of a few minutes?

Something told her she already knew the answer, she just didn't want to face it.

And that was why she was doing this. That was why she was scouring down every news story, article, blog post, video, etc. about Oblivio. She had to learn the answer to a question that had come into her head ever since she saw Chat's grin as he turned her head towards the photo of them kissing.

What the heck happened? 

"Marinette, don't you think you should go to bed? It's after three and you have school tomorrow."

"Not now, Tikki." Marinette waved her off. "I just found unreleased footage of someone who had been flying around the tower while we were fighting Oblivio."

"Oh Marinette," Tikki sighed. "You're still on that?"

"I need to know what happened Tikki! How could I have just kissed Chat like that? What did my Oblivio self know that I don't?"

"How to realize when you're in love with someone." Tikki muttered under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Marinette, have you considered that maybe you kissed Chat Noir then because you wanted to?"

"Of course I have! That's what's driving me crazy, Tikki. It's not the why, but the how. How'd I go from not knowing Chat to wanting to kiss him in the span of, well, according to this news story, Chat and I got hit around 14:30, and this one shows the Ladybugs repairing the damage at 14:55, so 25 minutes! In 25 minutes I went from being stuck with a stranger to kissing him! How could I have done that?"

"Didn't you go from hating Adrien to loving him in a few seconds?"

"Yeah? What does that have to do with anything?"

Tikki sighed and shook her head. Why were her holders always so oblivious?

"Don't you think there's a slight possibility that's what happened here? I mean, if you went from hating to loving Adrien in a few seconds, why couldn't that have happened with Chat?"

Marinette gave her kwami The Look™.

"Seriously, Tikki? You know very well why that's not possible."

"Humor me."

"Because Adrien is Adrien and Chat is Chat."

"What makes them so different?"

Marinette gave Tikki a disbelieving look.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not. Tell me, why is Adrien so wildly different from Chat Noir? Is it because Adrien's kind?"

"Of course not! Chat Noir is one of the kindest people I know! He gives up bus seats to strangers and crashes hero themed birthday parties just to see a kid smile." 

"Okay, well, if it's not that, is it because Chat Noir is funny and Adrien's not?"

"You make it sound like humor is a bad thing." Marinette muttered. "Chat's humor is one of my favorite things about him! Even if I didn't like it at first, it helps to keep my nerves down during a battle and on patrol he's always making me laugh ...." She sighed happily.

"And what about Adrien?" Tikki tried to hide a smirk at Marinette's ramble.

"I like his humor too. I wish he showed it more than he does, but it's always a treat when he says a silly line or dorky pun. He and Chat would get along surprisingly well, I think."

"See? And just a few moments earlier you were swearing up and down that they were wildly different from each other!"

"And they are!"

"How? You just said they would get along great."

"Adrien's a ton more reserved than Chat is and Chat can't go five seconds without flirting. I've never seen Adrien flirt in my life."

"Oh yeah? Well, what about when Adrien pulled you into dance without waiting for your answer? Or Valentine's Day? Don't tell me you forgot about the poem. I think that's pretty flirtatious if you ask me."

"Tikki..."

"And Chat can be plenty serious when the situation calls for it. Remember the night Galciator attacked? Or what about Heroes Day? He seemed plenty serious then!"

"Well, I-."

"My point is, Marinette, is that maybe, just maybe, there's more similarities between Adrien and Chat than you may think. And if they're really that similar, who says you can't fall for Chat too, hmm? Just something to think about."

Marinette bit her lip as her eyes focused on her bedroom floor.

"Maybe. It's a theory." She finally said, before turning back to the computer. "I'm going to watch this video, and then I'll head to bed, okay Tikki?"

"Alright. Goodnight, Marinette." Tikki flew over and pecked her cheek.

"Night." She said quietly.

Tikki flew off towards the bed Marinette had sewed for her grinning. Hopefully, Marinette is getting closer to the breakthrough Tikki knew she would have ever since Dark Owl. After all, it's only logical that after falling for Adrien, she would fall for Chat, too.

'Maybe, just maybe, there's more similarities between Adrien and Chat than you may think.' Tikki's words rang through Marinette's head over and over and over again.

She was right.

Every reason Marinette could come up with as to why she loved Adrien, she could find in Chat, too.

It was no wonder her Oblivio self fell for him so fast!

But... what did that say about her own feelings?

If all the reasons she loved Adrien were also qualities Chat had, what was stopping her from loving Chat? Was the only reason she loved Adrien instead of Chat time? If Chat had gotten to her first, if she had never met Adrien, would she be in love with Chat Noir?

'Yes.' She found herself answering, and just like that, the dam broke and waves of emotions flooded into her chest.

If the only factor to her feelings for Adrien was time, what was stopping her from loving Chat Noir?

'Fear.'

But fear of what? Fear of getting rejected?

'No.'

Fear of losing his friendship in the case of a breakup?

'No.'

Fear of Hawkmoth using her as leverage to get to him?

'Closer, but not quite.'

What about fear of Hawkmoth using him to get to her?

Marinette's eyes went wide.

That was it! That was the reason why she didn't love Chat Noir! Because if she did, Hawkmoth could hurt him! But wait....

That's not right. Fear isn't something that stops those feelings from happening, it's just something that pushes them back and buries them.

So, that fear isn't why she doesn't love Chat Noir, that fear is what's keeping her from loving Chat Noir!

Without that fear in the way, she would love him!

Wait... without that fear, she would be in love with Chat Noir? That's all that's stopping her from loving her kitty? Was a silly old fear?

Not because of her actual feelings for Chat Noir?

Wait... her actual feelings for Chat Noir. What were those again?

If her feelings for Chat Noir wasn't the reason she loved him, then did that mean...?

'I'm in love with Chat Noir.' Marinette exhaled a shaky breath and her eyes blew wide. 'The fear of Hawkmoth coming after him is what's keeping me from showing that love, not the emotion.'

Ah, there it was. Finally, something that felt right.

Just like that, her heart sped up and butterflies erupted in her stomach.

"I'm in love with Chat Noir." She whispered to the dead of night, a large grin growing on her face. "I'm in love with Chat Noir!" She said a bit louder, laughing to herself. "I'm in love with Chat Noir." She said again as the news settled into her heart for good. "Huh." Still smiling, Marinette leaned her elbow on her keyboard as her mind finally started to settle down.

"Whoa! Check it out! That cardboard costume is super impressive!"

"Wha? Oh right, the video." Marinette muttered. It was funny how suddenly, a project that she had dedicated so much time to seemed so insignificant now.

She turned to see someone standing on the top of the Montparnasse Tower, decked out in a nearly perfect cardboard replica of Chat Noir's suit and staff. The only difference besides the more boxy look was the fact his entire head was covered except for a small part of the bridge of his nose and eyes. 

"Attacking a Lady on the ground! Did you forget your manners?" The figure said.

Marinette giggled.

Yep. That was her kitty alright.

"A-!" She heard herself say as the video zoomed in to see the costume in its full glory.

Annnd there goes her heart again.

Both she and Chat Noir had less than a minute left when they were hit. If they had been stuck in the elevator for longer than a few seconds and had no clue they were supposed to not look, then they would've de-transformed! She would've known Chat Noir's identity.

"And I bet his name starts with an A!" She realized.

A small, crazy, impossible thought entered her mind. After all, Tikki herself said that they were more similar to each other than Marinette thought. And Tikki also knew Chat's identity. A small, crazy, impossible thought that she grabbed and held onto as the video continued to film the fight. 

And then... it happened.

Somehow, someway, the camera was able to get a perfect shot on the one part of the cardboard suit that wasn't covered.

The one part of Chat's face that normally is covered.

And holy crap! Marinette knew those eyes! She knew that bridge of the nose! It belonged to the face that was plastered all over her room! It belonged to Adrien!

Which meant that Adrien-

And Chat-

Marinette hurriedly paused the video, stood up, and promptly tripped over her desk chair.

"Gah!"

"Marinette! Are you okay?" Tikki flew down to see her holder on the ground, laughing and crying and a video paused on Adrien's face.

"I'm the best I've ever been, Tikki!" Marinette grinned up at her kwami.

Before Tikki could even question what had just happened, she was being pulled into the earrings. 

Ladybug flew through the streets, wanting to get to the Agreste mansion as soon as possible. She needed to see Adrien. She needed to tell him that she knew! And maybe even confess!

It was only when she saw the lack of lights turned on at the mansion that it occurred to her that it was nearing four in the morning and only crazy people would still be up. Like herself.

Glancing at the mansion, she saw a faint light coming from Adrien's room. As she got a bit closer, she saw him talking to a black blur-

'Plagg.'

as they sat on the couch together watching something on T.V.

Good. He was still awake, hopefully that won't make things too awkward.

Taking a deep breath, Ladybug swung over and knocked on his window pane.

Adrien turned and spotted her and as their eyes met, all of her nerves disappeared. This was her partner and she loved him. How could she ever be scared around him?

'Ladybug?' She saw him mouth. She pointed to the window pane and he nodded quickly, nearly sprinting to let her in.

She giggled. Only her kitty would be this okay with her visiting him at nearly four.

"Ladybug? What are you doing here?" He asked, his eyes wide with glee.

"I needed to talk to you." She said, a wild grin coming back over her face.

"Okay? What about?"

"Can I come in? It's important."

"Oh, yeah! Of course! Come right on in!"

"Thank you." 

"So, what's this about? If you don't mind me asking." Adrien asked once they were situated on the couch.

"No, no, you see, I was doing some research earlier tonight." She began.

"What about?"

"Do you remember anything about the Oblivio akuma?" She asked, watching his face carefully. A flash of panic washed over his features until it situated into something more natural.

"I remember being struck while hiding in the Montparnasse Tower, but that's about it. Why?"

"Well the thing is, this certain attack has always confused the heck out of me. I'm sure you know why."

"Because you and Chat Noir kissed." He answered immediately.

"Exactly. And at the time I believed I was in love with another boy, so you can imagine how I felt when suddenly there was photographic evidence of me kissing my partner because I wanted to."

"Wait... at the time?" His eyes grew wide.

"And that leads me to tonight's discovery. I've been searching up and down for an answer as to how I fell for Chat Noir so quickly and I finally figured out why."

Adrien's jaw dropped for a millisecond before he snapped it back and just looked at her expectantly.

"You see, tonight my kwami pointed out how similar Chat Noir was to the boy I was in love with. And I realized that the reason I fell for Chat so quickly is because everything I love about that boy, I also can find in Chat. The only reason why I didn't love Chat first is because the other boy got to my heart quicker." Ladybug stood up and began to pace.

"Which got me thinking. If time was the only factor as to why I didn't fall for Chat, what was stopping me from falling for him now? The answer of course, was fear. A fear that Hawkmoth could use him against me. That Hawkmoth could hurt him." Ladybug looked out towards the city.

"That's dumb." Adrien said. Ladybug turned back to him, looking just as shocked as him. "I-I mean," he smiled nervously. "Hawkmoth already hurts him. He's a superhero, that's just part of the job. And he could still be used as leverage against you, even if you didn't love him. You're still friends after all."

Ladybug gave Adrien a small smile.

"True. And the funny thing about fear is that it doesn't stop any emotions, it just prevents them from showing themselves. They're still there, just hidden." Ladybug shrugged. "I guess tonight, my fear finally lost the battle and I realized that I'm in love with Chat Noir." The words left her lips as easy as any.

She did it.

She finally confessed to Adrien!

"Really?" He leapt up from the couch and ran over to her. "You really mean it?"

Ladybug giggled.

"Yeah, kitty, I really mean it. I'm in love with you."

Adrien's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped.

"Did I forget to mention that I came across a video where my partner made a cardboard contraption covering every part of him except for the part that's usually covered by his mask? Leading me to discover that the reason he and the boy I loved had so many similarities was because they were the same person? I did? Oops." She grinned.

Adrien just stared as Ladybug began to laugh.

"You should see your face." She said through laughter, leaning down to hold her stomach. "Surprise?" She said, looking back up at him.

Her wild grin turned into something much softer as she saw tears began to stream down Adrien's face.

"Oh, kitty." She said, opening her arms. "Come here."

He rushed towards her.

"M'lady." He sobbed into her shoulder.

"Yeah, it's me."

"You love me? You've loved me all along?"

"I do. I promise you."

"Am I dreaming?" He laughed.

"No, this is really happening."

"I love you, too." He said, pulling back and grinning.

Her heart fluttered. Finally, it was happening! She and Adrien loved each other. No more dumb mutual pining masked as unrequited love because of secret identities.

"Does this mean you'll finally go to the movies with me?" He asked suddenly. Ladybug laughed.

"Sure thing, my prince."

"Good, I'll pick you up at 18:00 on Friday, there's a new action movie coming out."

"You'll pick me up? Doesn't that require some information about where I live?"

"12 Rue Gotlib, unless you've moved since Friday, Marinette." He smirked.

Ladybug gasped.

"You knew?"

"Nope!"

"Wha-?"

"But I suspected."

"And what would have happened if I wasn't Marinette?"

"Yeah, but you are. So, that means I was right and Plagg owes me 10 euros!"

"You did not just bet on my identity." She deadpanned.

"Guilty as charged. But hey, now I've got money to treat you to ice cream after school tomorrow.'

"Okay." She giggled. "You're lucky a love you."

He gave her that lopsided smile she was so used to seeing on Chat's face.

"Yeah. I am." Adrien yawned.

"You should get some rest." Ladybug said gently. "It's really late."

"Aw, but I want to talk to you more."

"You'll see me tomorrow at school, you dork."

"Oh, alright." He sighed heavily. "Do I at least get a goodnight kiss?"

Ladybug's heart skipped a beat.

"Ah, what the heck, come here, kitty." She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a messy kiss.

"Wow." He squeaked when she let him go. She giggled.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay my love?"

"I'll be counting down the seconds."

Ladybug waved to him as she swung out of his window.

Adrien watched as she blew him a kiss from the rooftop over let out a loud cheer.

"Wait! One last question!" Ladybug said, suddenly turning back around.

"What is it?" Adrien asked.

"Be my boyfriend?" She asked him, grinning widely.

"Of course, bugaboo!"

"Great! See you tomorrow, my love!" She waved and headed home.

Adrien sighed.

"Man, do I love that girl." 

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Adrien Agreste: *spends time to perfectly replicate the lining and bell*Also Adrien Agreste: *forgets to cover up the ONE PART of his face that the mask covers*He really decided to be extra and cut out a mask shape instead of just two holes for his eyes. I hope you liked it!                                                                                                                                                            -Colorado