the reveal he least expected
After three years, Marinette finally had the courage to tell Adrien that she was in love with him. Only to be let down, gently of course. Adrien couldn’t hurt a fly even if he tried and he certainly couldn’t hurt one of his best friends.
He was flattered, but he was honest. He was in love with someone else and Marinette knew from personal experience that you cannot simply fall out of love with the one your heart yearns for just to make someone else happy.
The shift in the dynamic of their friendship hurt them both, but when Adrien confronted her, Marinette assured him it was just temporary.
“It’ll be okay, I just need some time.”
Some days were better than others, but it never snapped back to the way it used to be. Guilt began to eat Adrien alive.
One day he couldn’t take it anymore. He approached Marinette, giving her the most pleading look. He requested to talk and walk her home from school as he had done numerous times before. She agreed, sliding into her usual rhythm beside him as they made their way out the school’s doors.
“I can’t let our friendship die over an unrequited love, Mari.”
She didn’t say anything, just pressed her lips together in a thin line. Adrien caught his mistake instantly after the words left his mouth.
“Oh God, Mari, no. I meant-” He took a deep breath. “I meant that the girl I’m… in love with doesn’t even know how I feel. It’s not like I’m going to start dating her tomorrow or anything…please Mari, I don’t want to lose you over this.”
“You should tell her how you feel. Maybe you would start dating tomorrow.” Her voice was quiet, her tone was dry.
“This - this isn’t about her, it’s about you. It’s about us.”
“We’re friends.” she stated with a shrug.
“Yes.” She stopped walking and looked him in the eyes for what felt like the first time in forever. “Being your friend has always been what I’ve wanted. I couldn’t help developing…feelings for you, too. We’ll always be friends. I told you, I just need some time.” She cupped his face in her hands, giving him a gentle promising smile. “Who else is going to call you out for being such a dork all the time?”
He laughed, she laughed, things were starting to look up for them both. They continued walking and making general small talk as they neared the bakery.
“But you should really tell this girl how you feel, I mean it.”
“Oh yeah,” he laughed, “like I can just waltz up to Ladybug and say ‘I’m in love with you’ and have that end well.”
“What?” she was ghostly, she looked broken.
He bit his tongue. Cat’s out of the bag now.
“I’m in love with Ladybug.”
The silence was dreadful, though it only lasted a few seconds.
“No. You’re not.” Marinette straightened as she reached for the handle to the bakery’s door.
“W-what? How can you say that -”
“You’re not in love with her, Adrien.” She turned, a mixture of pain and anger brushed over her face as she brushed her hair back to expose her earrings more. “Because I am Ladybug.”
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