We Kissed

Chapter Three

(As you can see from the picture, this is Marichat. Be prepared)

"Marinette?" Tikki says. "Are you.. OK?"

"No, I'm not." I say, harshly. "I just kissed one of my best friends, without asking for permission, and I have definitely ruined my chances to ever get with him!"

Tikki looks hurt. "But you already knew that he loved Ladybug."

I look down at my toes. "I know... I just hoped." Tears form in my eyes again, but I don't bother to wipe them away. Tears fall into my lap, dampening the blanket wrapped around me.

"Marinette?"

I look up. Through the blur of tears, I see Chat Noir, perched on the railing.

Great. Just great.

"Marinette, are you OK?"

I scowl, wiping my face. "No, I'm not. Can you go, Chat?"

He hops down off the railing and comes over to me. I wriggle away, not wanting to be near him. 

"Have I done something wrong?"

I want to tell him that I'm angry about him kissing me, but I have to remind myself that I'm Marinette right now. Not Ladybug.

"No.." I say. "It's not you."

"Who is it then?" Chat's voice is strained, like he knows the answer.

"My friend..." Despite my mixed feelings toward Chat, I keep talking. "I-I like him, and when I'm around him, I can't speak, I can't tell him how I feel."

Chat leans on the railing. "So what happened?"

"I-I kissed him." My face grows warm, but I continue. "I don't know what came over me, I just kissed him and he said he loved someone else..."

My voice begins to rise in anger. "Why is love so hard? Why did he have to fall for a superhero? And why can't I tell him that I'm-" I freeze, my heart pounding.

"That you're what?" Chat asks.

Seriously Marinette? Now Chat's on your radar.

GOOD JOB.

"U-Uh... I'm..." I fumble, looking around for a word. "I'm..."

Chat moves to sit next to me. He leans closer and a strong sense of déjà vu fills me.

"I- I'm.." I choke. I need to distract him. He can't know I'm Ladybug. 

So I take his face in my hands and kiss him. He reacts almost instantly, wrapping his arms around me, my blanket falling off my shoulders.

OH MY GOODNESS MARINETTE YOU JUST CAN'T RESIST THEM CAN YOU?

BOYS WITH GREEN EYES AND BLONDE HAIR JUST MAKE YOU WANT TO-

Hold up.

I pull away slightly. Chat opens his eyes. He's pink in the face, and doesn't want to stop. I put one hand up and touch his hair.

It's soft.

Like... Adrien's...

Something stirs in Chat's eyes, and he leans forward and kisses me again.

I shouldn't kiss him, I shouldn't. But he's just so... inviting. Who cares if he's who I think he is?

Chat's hands squeeze my waist, and suddenly, I'm on his lap. I let him kiss me again.

Stop.

Chat's claws slide under the hem of my shirt, grazing my skin.

This isn't right.

I pull back. "We can't..." I murmur, my voice soft and breathy.

Chat blinks and he jumps as if realizing what he's done. He pushes me of his lap and looks away, red in the face.

"S-Sorry, Marinette. I don't know what came over me!"

I fiddle with the lucky charm Adrien made me that I wear on my wrist. "I'm... sorry too..." I whisper. 

Chat doesn't say anything. He glances at me, looks away, then does a double take.

"Chat?" I say. Inwardly, I begin to freak out.

OH MY GOODNESS WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING MY WHOLE LIFE.

HOW DID I NOT SEE IT BEFORE?

CHAT NOIR IS ADRIEN.

Chat leans forward, placing a gloved hand into my hair, playing with it. He stares into my eyes, confused.

"Ladybug?"