there’s a crease between marinette’s eyebrows that adrien is very specifically focused on. it’s the same one he noticed a lot when her brain was working overtime – trying to string words together to form a sentence, a word, anything. often times he held back in doing anything to relax her, just fondly waiting for her to slow down the world around her to get her thoughts out. adrien had always been patient with marinette, always hanging onto her every word like it was the most important thing that was ever told to him. although he wished she would just ease up around him like she was with her other friends, probably out of the major discomfort he brought her somehow– he eventually came to the conclusion he was just projecting his insecurities on her, and maybe he just didn’t want to do that to her specifically.
it’s almost immediate, how much more comfortable with marinette he suddenly feels. ladybug – the one who witnessed him fuck up more than any other person did in the world. there had been that invisible line they couldn’t cross, couldn’t see over the threshold of – and it felt eased away by simple confessions of true identities. impulsive decisions based on instinct was something adrien realized about himself as soon as he had put the suit on, taking up the mantle of cat noir, saving the day with his ladybug. right now is no different especially as he reached out, gentle thumb pressed to that crease of frustration between marinette’s eyebrows, wondering if they were that close now.
even now, she’s easing all of the self-doubt he held hostage in the forefront of him, welcoming his ignorance with softness and warmth - just like always. how did he not see it before? “ not really that good at hiding it, ” he says in the most soft tone, smile evident. this was the easiest truth he’d ever accepted, settled right between his ribs and made itself a new home – a place reserved just for his favourite bug. adrien was brought down to earth, the realization that the world had kept moving on around their confessions, a sigh falling out of his mouth at the idea of breaking this little bubble, considering he didn’t exactly have his apartment stocked with any croissants or anything of the sort. “ i mean – i have toast … ?
— - THE MORE TIME SPENT around adrien , the more she’d seen the cat’s personality envelop someone she deemed PERFECT and PURE . the idealistic reality she’d created , a secret identity that would stay a secret only to return to herself for adrien to find something . . . ANYTHING in the real her to fall in love with . something a bit too poisonous to think about . licking the insides of her cheeks , causing them to burn from the inside out . ladybug would always RULE over marinette , no matter what , people loved and adored ladybug . they cherished and praised her ; meanwhile marinette simply wrote about it in her diary . like a fangirl of herself , a fangirl of ladybug . pathetic , wasn’t it ? if people knew who was behind the polka dots and yo - yo , would they think the same way she did ?
— - PACIFIC EYES WIDENED SLIGHTLY , precious and still sleep filled lips parted along with her eyes . feeling the pad of adrien’s thumb against her skin , eyes up and focused so closely on his tired features . this intimate moment they shared hadn’t felt foreign or wrong , while it would’ve before , knowing this was her kitty . . . it now felt almost NORMAL . the amount of time cat noir had saved her life , even as marinette , this should’ve been routine by now . a soft touch and they moved onto the next motion . but it wasn’t the same , not to marinette . having to relearn and reteach herself what was real , what was NEW , what was old . learn to speak to adrien all over again , pretend they always had their masks on .
— - THE CAT BECAME MORE evident as he confessed that he hadn’t had much . not even something to her to work with , work her magic and make something out of nothing . this was supposed to be a dream for her . waking up next to adrien , cooking him breakfast , and being a part of his household . but it felt more like two friends having a sleep over ; not that she minded . cat noir had been her BEST FRIEND , even if she wouldn’t admit it . treating her with kindness and respect , something that ladybug had taken for granted . this was so unfair on marinette’s end . ❛ we could always order something . ❜ marinette offered , nudging adrien’s arm with her own , ❛ i’ll even PAY . ❜ shoving her hands deep into pockets that weren’t hers , she frowned , looking back up at the taller frame beside her . ❛ uh , my bag is downstairs . . . in the break room . ❜