"Chat Noir, Tikki! My soul mate is Chat Noir!"
Tikki flew around her holder stifling giggles at her young holders ramblings. How had this gone on for two years without her realising just how deep the bond was with her partner.
"Marinette, you must of had an idea that you two were meant to be. You're two parts of a whole, like me and my stinky sock."
Tikki's words swirled in Marinette's brain. Two parts of a whole. Soul mates. Yin and yang. She shouldn't have pushed him away like she did, he'd probably hate her now, and never want to be her soul mate and they would never get married and have three kids. The animals were less important now, after all she'd have her own stray cat to take care of, and Plagg. As crazy as Marinette had been after finding out Adrien wasn't an option, she was surprised how well she was committing to this, almost as though she was happy it was him.
"You know," Marinette stated, as she walked towards the Miracle box. "The whole idea isn't freaking me out as much as it should, I'm actually quite excited." She let out a girlish chuckle as she released Wayzz from his home in the miracle box. The other kwami's were on night rest but she knew Wayzz had knowledge she wasn't privy to.
The green turtle based kwami appeared in a flash of light, bowing his welcome to his young Guardian.
"Master, how may I be of service?" Wayzz was one of the wisest kwami's after all the time he'd spent with Master Fu. Marinette also thought he would be a contender against Tikki and Plagg for information regarding the Miraculous, and she needed the information now from an unbiased form. She knew Tikki always had a fondness for her to get together with Chat.
"I want to know more about me and Chat Noir. Why did Master Fu chose us over others?"
"Good questions Master, but you know I can't give you too many answers. I have to protect the young cats identity." Marinette looked towards the Kwami and wondered how much he would actually tell her, perhaps if she worded the questions carefully she would be able to weasel something out of him.
"What can you tell me? There must be something. For example, did Master Fu know we were soul mates." Marinette looked at Tikki for support, perhaps she could get Wayzz to deliver on the information. This was too important for her not to know.
"She knows already, Wayzz. Today's akuma linked everyone to their soul mates." Tikki explained, allowing the other kwami to spill the beans on the decision as to why Chat Noir and Ladybug were indeed linked by the red string of fate.
Wayzz sighed before heading over to Marinette's computer, seating himself in the little nest she'd created for the kwami's to rest and relax. The nest was actually just a selection of thimbles and dolls chairs. Nothing too extravagant, but they seemed to like it.
"When Master Fu went after a new Ladybug and black cat holder there are two things he looks for and majority of the time he gets it correct." Wayzz began to explain the story of how the ladybug and black cat miraculous are chosen by the Guardian. At the end of the day she was now the guardian, and when time came she would need to pass the miraculous' on correctly. This was important and vital information for her to learn.
Marinette nodded as she sat down on the computer chair opposite to where the little kwami was relaxing. She leant forward and placed her elbows on the desk, chin resting in her hands. Her eyes were wide open and ready to learn.
"What happened the times he didn't?" She couldn't help inquire.
"The cat would protect the ladybug, as it should be, only for the ladybug to mess up and not be able to bring him back from the dead. You see, when it comes to the black cat only a deep connection can bring him back. His job is to sacrifice himself, and as long as in Ladybug's heart she is pure and true with her feelings for him, and she has a deep connection to her partner, he will always come back to her." The green kwami looked over at Marinette before looking around her room noticing the few remaining pictures of Adrien. "He will always be hers, and only hers, as long as she accepts him for who his true self is."
"Mine?" Marinette questioned. She liked the sound of that, no matter how primal it was. He could be hers. He was hers. She was his, and the best was she liked the idea. True love though? Was that really how she felt about him? Somewhere in her mind she couldn't help but think she was trying to compensate for losing Adrien, for wanting so desperately to have someone like all her friends had.
'So should I tell him? Oh my - I need to break things off with Luka. I can't be seeing Luka and dating Chat Noir. Do we need to reveal our identities?" She threw her notepad open on her desk and grabbed a pencil. "I need a new outfit for the reveal, I cannot just be wearing this, I need a dress and new shoes. Oh and my hair -"
Tikki flew into her holders face and patted one of her fins against the rambling girls cheek.
"Marinette, please calm down. You're going way too fast and far too quickly. This needs to play out in its own time. You can't force it to happen. Plus you haven't received your soul mark yet, you won't have any proof of what you're saying and there's a chance he won't believe you." Tikki attempted to reason with her holder, knowing full well Marinette wouldn't listen.
"But he's my soul mate. He said he loved me, he wouldn't turn back on it. I know him! He's always wanted this and now he can have it." How could Tikki be saying such things? Tikki knows as much as she does that her dorky kitty cat is madly in love with her. Oh, how easy it'll be to love him back, eventually, when Adrien is fully out of her system, maybe after a few dates ... or a few years.
Her thoughts began to spiral out of control again when a second thought, or should she say 'person' shot to the forefront. Luka! How can she keep forgetting Luka? He was there and he was supporting her. She felt angry at herself for how she had used him over time and to end what they had now ... well that would just be cruel by anyones standards.
"Marinette, you're not listening. Chat Noir will ask you about the boy you love and you'll tell him that it's no more because he has a soul mate. Chat will then ask you about your soul mark, you'll say you don't have one and then next thing you know you'll both argue about whether it's true love, or if you're just with him because you lost your chance with the other boy." Tikki finally took a deep breath and lowered down next to Wayzz. He greeted the red kwami with a warm smile. He couldn't have said it better himself.
Adrien. For the first time that evening another blonde haired, green eyed boy entered strongly into her thoughts. Her stomach churned. Adrien. Adrien Agreste. Her first love. She looked over at the couple of remaining pictures and sighed. She couldn't deny the love that coursed through her veins when she thought of him, if she were to admit it, but Adrien wasn't hers. To be fair Luka wasn't either, she was a mess.
"Adrien has his soul mate. It's time I moved on with mine. But you're right, I need to wait for it to take its natural course. I can't push this to happen, plus there's Luka. He's such an amazing guy and I promised until I found my soul mate that I would be with him. I can't just ditch him when I don't have a soul mark and also I don't truly know who my soulmate is." Marinette sighed again before moving and flopping on her chaise.
Throwing her hands over her eyes she rubbed them a little harder than she probably should. Luka had a soul mark. Why wasn't he searching for that girl? She could be amazing and Luka could be looking away from her because of Marinette's selfish needs.
"What have I done, Tikki? How do I get out of this mess. It's not fair on Luka, or Chat. They deserve honesty, and now I am just as bad as Lila."
Tikki and Wayzz sped over to their master, faces full of pure shock.
"No! Don't you dare compare yourself to her. It's not worth it."
Marinette giggled, and removed the hands from over her eyes.
"OK, so I suppose I'm not quite there yet." She sat up again as the kwami's rested on the lip of her chaise lounge. Too much was happening and she was confused and frustrated. Today's akuma proved there was someone she should be with, yet here she was messing things up again.
As if knowing a distraction was needed, her phone began to ring.
Adrien Agreste
Of all people, why was it him who was calling now? It's as if he knew she needed the distraction, as if he knew when to call. It was quite freaky the more she thought about it. Sometimes she did wonder if he had a sixth sense with her. Moving at the same time, reaching for the same objects, even saying the same words at the same time.
With a heavy sigh she grabbed ahold of her phone and accepted the call, not realising it was a video call. Adrien's face appeared on the screen causing her to flail and drop the phone to the floor.
Muffled noises and squealing sounded from the phone as Adrien let out a chuckle. Clumsy Marinette was at it again. It was though a montage ran through his head and a deep warm feeling circulated his heart. There was something so ... Marinette ... about it. He hoped she would never change, she was adorable. He quickly scalded himself for his train of thought. He can't be even considering this now.
"Hey Marinette."
Adrien watched her room move as her phone was taken and placed into her dock near her computer, it was easier for her that way. It wouldn't end up on the floor. Well at least it was less likely to end up on the floor.
"Hey Adrien."
Marinette applauded herself, no stuttering or stumbling over words so far. The day was looking up. She just needed to keep thinking about her kitty cat who is her soul mate and Luka who supported her through everything. She didn't need Adrien. She didn't ...
"I was just wondering if you had any extra ideas for the comparison essay. I've typed up all our notes and, to be honest, it's sounding great. I just wanted to know if you have anything additional to add?"
Marinette woke up her computer moving the small 'mouse' shaped mouse next to her, and asked Adrien to forward the essay so she could look over it. Her computer was slow so she decided to take this opportunity to attempt a normal conversation with Adrien. Now she knew it was Chat she was bound to, she should be able to speak to him normally. Right?
"So, how you been?" Good start Marinette, she appalled herself again. She was going to need an award at this rate.
"Good, just the usual fencing and Chinese this evening. How about you?"
"I've been working on the designs for the costumes, I think I'm almost complete."
"I'm so glad I've got you as my partner Marinette. The guys are all still trying to swap with me. Actually the girls are too! All we need is for the next challenge to be make the costumes." Adrien smiled as widely as he could at Marinette. This new assignment was made for her and he could clearly picture her tongue hanging out to the side of her mouth as she came up with different ideas for their outfits. She was incredibly talented, especially for her age.
"Well, I am a wanted lady you know. Full of talent me!" She laughed, closing her eyes. Unfortunately this meant she missed the expression he gave her. As his eyebrows softened he was swept away by the warmth of her laugh. He'd never seen her like this since their meeting in the rain. There was something about it though. Something that pulled his heart in a familiar way.
"That you are," as her nickname approached his lips he had to consciously tighten them to keep it hidden. He had no right to call her Princess for a fair few reasons. Number one being he was Adrien.
"Oh, I've carried on watching 'Smallville' to help with the assignment."
Adrien's smile stretched over his face.
"Don't lie to me, Mari, you're enjoying it."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"You got me! I'm really enjoying it. I can't believe the whole Lana, Clark and Lois angle though. Clark and Lois are soulmates, Lana needs to back off."
"Wow! You're enthusiastic about that. What's wrong with Lana? Her and Clark are similar. They understand each other."
"Soulmates are like yin and yang, they're not meant to be the same, Adrien. They're meant to compliment each other. Lois is a hot headed reporter and Clark is the soft supporter, they're just made for each other."
"Like Ladybug and Chat Noir?" He asked unconsciously.
"Yes!" Marinette exclaimed, "exactly like Ladybug and Chat Noir."
They sat smiling at each other as the thought settled in both their heads. The true yin and yang of their time. Paris' heroes.
"Do you ever think our heroes will get together?" Adrien spoke out loud voicing the thought that was in his head. Regardless of all this soul mark drama, the hope was still there that his Lady would be his other half.
Marinette sat staring at where she'd hidden the Miracle box thinking about all the possibilities and everything she'd learned over the past few hours.
"Yes. I think they will." Marinette's attention was still else where, meaning she missed the love struck smirk which approached Adrien's face. If she'd been looking she'd have seen the change in his face as the look of Marinette merged into his mind to become one with Ladybug. This was too much, there's no way they could be. He needed to get a grip on himself.
"So how's things with Kagami?" Marinette suddenly turned back to face her phone, plastering on her 'fake-it-until-you-make-it' smile. She studied the face of the young boy staring at her only to see a shift in his demeanour. This wasn't the Adrien she knew. This smile he had placed on his lips wouldn't even pass for one of his carefully placed model smiles.
"Actually Marinette..."
Before Adrien could finish his response an alert flashed across both their phone screens. An akuma! How great!
"Sorry Adrien, I need to go bake my parents. I'll read the essay and speak to you about it tomorrow." She wasn't even going to correct her stumble on words, she was too hyped to get out her room and get going.
"Sure thing, see ya."
The farewells were short and snappy allowing them escape to the second akuma that day. Not only was Ladybug about to fight, she would be seeing her soulmate again too. Today was getting far too much.
"Tikki, what do I say when I see him?" Marinette didn't know what to do. This was too much, obviously Hawkmoth was out and about somewhere laughing his head off. Seriously, two akuma's in one day! Did he not know they had a life to lead too, and seeing her partner was just going to throw another spanner in her already broken works.
"Don't say anything yet, Marinette. You still have a couple of weeks until your birthday. Wait until you finally receive your soul mark, that's the only way you can be sure about this." Tikki gave Marinette a quick hug before calling her transformation and leaping out into the night sky.
As she landed on the rooftop beside her blonde bombshell of a partner she felt the need to get something off her chest.
"Before this starts, can I ask you a quick question?" He nodded indicating for her to go on. "Do you have a soul mark yet, Chat Noir?"
A smirk over took his face.
"Interesting question, M'lady, and no I don't. Why did you ask?"
"Oh, no reason!"
Before he could question further she bounded off into the night with a wide smile stretched across her face.