"Marinette could you please take a picture of the Lafayette Saber, I completely forgot and I gotta film Dean Gate," Alya said with a small smile spread across her face.
"Of course," Marinette answered as she went towards the other part of the Museum.
"The real statue of liberty has a hollow stone in its base where a copy of U.S declaration of independence..." Dean gates explained the students. Alya could see Marinette at the corner of her eye walking towards the door, she smirked and gave a nod to Nino, gesturing him to play his part. Understanding, Nino quickly took off his headphones and hid it behind his back as he started to act.
"Dude, I can't find my headphones," The boy with the red cap said as he nudged Adrien with his elbow lightly and moved his hand over his neck and collarbone, "Could you go check the other room and see if I left them here, I'll look here."
"No problem, I'm on it." The blond said, smiling reassuringly at his best friend. As soon as Adrien left, Nino turned to give a thumbs up to the Auburn-haired girl, whose smirk only got wider.
Marinette was about to click the picture when she heard footsteps. She turned around to see the green-eyed blond.
"Uh-uh-uh Adrien?"
"Marinette?"
Aeon put her right hand on the wall and the doors slammed shut. Due to the sudden action, he got startled and jumped. He looked back to see the exit, which was blocked by the wooden doors.
"Huh, what's happening?" She asked walking up to him.
He tried to open the doors but failed.
"That's strange." He gasped.
His phone buzzed, he took it out of his pocket only to see the Akuma Alet activated and an Akumatized Robustus on the screen.
"But Markov is here with us how could he have been Akumatized?"
While they were talking, Jess and Aeon were figuring out the reason why they were so stressed.
"Their stress levels are high enough to go to phase two," Aeon said.
"Okay, go!" Jess whisper-yelled as she threw the weapon towards the switch.
The lights in the room immediately went off and Aeon cast a hologram to carry out their plan.
"I am solitude and I am here to take captive of those who are loved by no one." The shadowy figure spoke. Marinette and Adrien's eyes widened in fear as they tried to push the door.
As Solitude paced forward to reach for the blonde, Marinette stood in front of him to defend him and screamed as she dropped on her knees, "N-no, I-I love him!"
Adrien's jaw dropped on hearing the confession of his 'friend'. He was shocked that he had been oblivious to his own feelings for the amazing blue-haired girl. He kept denying the fact that he liked her. His love for ladybug had blinded him even after a million rejections. And to move on from her, he dated Kagami which never worked. He never considered Marinette more than a friend. He realised his mistake and charged towards Solitude.
The bluenette noticed his action as she pulled him behind a pillar. She knew that she could trust him completely.
"Mari-" Adrien was shushed be Marinette who placed her index finger on his peach lips.
"Shh, whatever I'll do, you won't say a word to anyone. Clear?" She commanded in a serious tone.
He nodded in agreement as he heard Marinette say the three words that he found too familiar.
Marinette was sure that she would be scolded and lectured by her kwami, but she would do anything to save the love of her life. No identity mattered to her at that very moment.
"Tikki spots on!" She murmured silently.
Adrien stood in front of her, not expecting something like that to happen.
"M-m'lady?" He whisper-yelled, his eyes widened in shock.
"W-what, w-what d-did you say?" She stuttered, astonished.
"Y-you are m'lady!"
"C-chat!"
Her eyes narrowed as she murmured, "you're disappointed, aren't you?"
"O-of course not!"
"Doesn't matter, we have a villain to defeat."
As soon as he transforms, the villain disappeared and the room was lighted.
Aeon and Jess, who were hiding behind the pillar, looked at each other before showing themselves to Adrien and Marinette.
"So you two are ladybug and Chat Noir, huh?"
"See I told you they are made for each other..." Aeon whispered.
"Guys, have you seen Solitude?" Both the heroes asked in unison.
"Actually it was a hologram made by me."
"Why'd you do it?" The spotted heroine asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jess said.
They just blinked in confusion.
"Duh, you two idiots love each other but act oblivious. We wanted to bring you two closer and don't worry your identities are safe with us."
They stared at each other, trying to process the fact. The ravenette blinked as Jess interrupted their starting contest by snapping her fingers. "Hello, and we have got the winner of the mega gaping championship, Adrien Agreste!"
Both of them came out of their trance as Chat Noir spoke, "Marinette..." he started walking closer to her.
"A-Adrien I-I-"
"What did you mean when you said that you love me in front of Solitude?"
Tears started emerging from her eyes, "I-its true, I love you, more than a friend. I've always loved you but you never noticed. I told that out loud to save you..."
He hugged her petite frame as he nuzzled his face into her shoulder.
"M'lady, I love you too..."
She pushed him away angrily. "No you don't! You're only saying this because now you know that I am ladybug. And you never noticed me as Marinette!"
"That is not true, okay! I have always had feelings for you as Marinette. But I guess I was in denial because I was blinded with the love for your alter ego!" He snapped.
"Then what about Kagami?"
"I don't love her, neither does she. She only hangs out with me for the sake of the company. Believe me, I had no choice. At first after the miracle queen episode she did have feelings for me but after a month or so she said that it would be best if we just pretended be a couple in public. It was all an act." He said, his voice cracking and was on the verge of tears.
"I wanted to ask you out as when I saw you with Luka, I felt jealousy boiling up inside me. But you looked so happy that I couldn't bring myself to separate you two..."
She cupped his cheek with her right hand. "I don't see him in that way. He's just a friend. I couldn't give him a chance because I love you too much and even if I moved on to him for forgetting you, I would feel like I'm using him. And it would hurt both of us."
