Maybe Not After All

Marinette's POV

School felt longer than usual, maybe it was because I wanted to go home as soon as possible, and just sort out everything. But as school ended, I rushed home, but also knowing I still had to celebrate my birthday with my parents. I entered the bakery, a fake smile plastered on my face, "Hey mom, hey dad, I'm back from school."

My parents embraced me, "Happy 17th Birthday dear!" My mom greeted. "I can't believe my little girl is already 17 years old, I felt as if it was just yesterday you were running around the bakery with a fashion magazine, telling me you wanted to be a fashion designer." My dad said, a smile engraved on his face.

I smiled. But it was getting late, we all sat down for dinner, and afterwards, I headed upstairs.

Once I entered my room, my smile disappeared, I put my head to my knees, Tikki flew out of my cardigan, she knew that I couldn't accept the fact that I would never be with Adrien, because I was soulmates with my partner, Chat Noir. Of course, I knew this was a lose-win situation. I mean I didn't hate Chat Noir, but I didn't love him as much as I did Adrien.

And just as tears started filling my eyes, a soft knock came from the window, I looked at it, and to my surprise, it was none other, than my very own soulmate.

"C-chat noir?" I asked, wiping my tears to make sure he doesn't see my tears, as he'd get suspicious.

"The one and only." he smirked, he gestured into my room, "Can I come in?", he asked.

"Marinette right? You helped me defeat the evillustrator." He said.

"Umm yeah, but I only helped slightly." I said. "But, why are you here? Don't you have superhero-y things to do?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, but a little bird told me that today's your 17th birthday, and that you got your mark." He said. "So, I wanted to greet you a happy birthday."

"Aww thanks, it means a lot." I said.

"But I also heard you were quite hesitant to talk about your soulmate, so, who's the lucky guy?" he asked. I froze.

Noticing my movements, he knew I probably didn't want to talk about it, but he asked anyway, "Do you wanna talk about it? Something wrong with your soulmate? Are you not satisfied?" He asked curiously.

I chuckled.

"Kitty, you do know that curiosity killed the cat right?" I said, smirking.

"Yes, but satisfaction brought it back." He replied, grinning.

"Ok, I umm, about my soulmate, I was quite hesitant and I didn't want to talk about it because I doubt he'd ever like me, I don't deserve a guy like him, but at the same time, if I told others about who was my soulmate, it would put both him, me and everyone else who knows in danger." I rambled. "And anyways, I doubt a guy like him would ever like a clumsy, ugly klutz like me." I gave Chat Noir a sad smile.

Chat Noir looked shocked. He stared at me for a few minutes until finally giving a reply.

"What? Why wouldn't he like you? Don't you think its the other way around? You don't deserve to hide his identity like this. And you are NOT a clumsy, ugly klutz, you're beautiful, kind, smart, caring, talented and many more, any guy with be more than lucky to be with you. The guy's a jerk if he doesn't like you." He replied, looking intently in my eyes.

I was stunned. I couldn't move, I never knew Chat Noir thought of me like that, especially not my civilian form. He was my soulmate, but he didn't know that, neither did he know that he was talking about himself.

"I-Thanks Chat Noir." I said, voice filled with appreciation.

"You're welcome Marinette", he looked at the clock, and headed towards the window and said, "Oh I gotta go, I have patrol soon, you know, the job of a superhero never ends, hope you sort this out with your soulmate, and once again, happy birthday!" He said before leaping away.

I smiled, my mood was better thanks to what Chat Noir had said, I daydreamed for a while, until Tikki snapped me out of it, "Marinette don't you have patrol with Chat Noir right now?" She asked.

"OMG, you're right, I do, and I'm LATE, no time for daydreaming right now, I gotta go, Tikki, Spots On!" I called my transformation and light surrounded me and once again, I was Ladybug, I leaped onto the roofs of the buildings of Paris, looking for Chat Noir, who supposedly was already on patrol. Chat Noir probably already finished patrol, and he was probably really worried about me as I was never this late for patrol. I found him sitting at the top of the Eiffel Tower, feet dangling, he was deep in thought, I sneaked behind him, being as quite as possible. I sat next to Chat Noir, and he looked deep in thought, he suddenly noticed my presence, and asked, "M'Lady, have you got you're mark?"

I tensed, but then I sighed, "Yes."

Chat Noir's eyes widened, "You Have? Who is it? Is it me? Oh Please say it's me." He said with pure curiosity.

I was silent. I didn't know what to say. If I told him, he'd be ecstatic, but then, it'd prove that he probably only loved the Ladybug side of me, and if I told him, he might figure out my identity. If I didn't tell him, he might try to dig for information, he also might think its him, but if I try to avoid the topic and say I don't want to think about it, he might find it similar to what Marinette said.

Chat Noir seemed to take a hint. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it." He said gently.

"Thanks Chat." I leaned on his shoulder, while admiring the views of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

"For what M'Lady?" He asked, clearly confused.

"For always being there for me." I replied, giving him a sweet smile.

You know what? Maybe I was wrong, maybe this wasn't a lose-win situation after all.