6 The Prince's Night

Chat Noir/Adrien's POV

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"Plagg...What if Ladybug gets upset about not wearing my actual suit?" I looked in the mirror at the black medieval-looking outfit that I found in a Hottobic store. Nino said they had a cool theme this year so I thought I'd check it out, I didn't think he meant a medieval theme!

This is too much! What if Marinette figures out it's me without my suit!

I paced the room biting my nails while Plagg munched on Camembert and said, "who cares? *munch* Just wear a mask like the real Chat Noir!" I popped up at the idea and grabbed him spinning around.

"YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

He pried himself free from my flamboyant grasp and flew away carrying some of his leftover cheese. I looked over to him across the room and chuckled, "I'll be back, I have to pick up my very own mask so m'lady and purrincess can recognize me tonight!"

Running out of the room and down the street, I swing into a small costume shop and start looking through the masks until I find a replica of Chat Noir's very own black, eye mask.

When I get back to the room, I see Plagg napping in my bed, then chuckle at the cute sight and think of how much my life has changed with him around.

I don't think I'd even be going to this kind of dance without him...I wouldn't have met her either.

But who was her? Ladybug or Marinette; That was the question that always crossed my mind when I thought of what Plagg has done for me.

I shake myself out of the confusing thought and look at the time, "Crap, I'm gonna be late if I keep standing around!" I grabbed my jacket and mask, woke up Plagg and ran out of my room. Before I could get out the front door though, I was stopped.

"Where do you think you're going?" Damn it!

I turned around to see my father standing down the hall with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes pierced my confidence, killing it like a duck during hunting season. "U-uhm, well Nino asked for help in uh..." I looked down at my outfit and tried to come up with an excuse but couldn't find one, like a duck's escape route.

"Well? Do not lie to me, Adrien." It aimed at me, ready to shoot me down with his rifle.

I took a deep breath and tried my best to sound convincing, "Nino asked me if I could help him in an English project, it's a video project for the play Romeo and Juliet..." I stared straight into his eyes and spoke clearly, "it affects my grade as well, I thought some extra credit would help me in the long-run." I kept my gaze at the edge of his barrel.

He tilted his chin up and pondered for a moment. Lowering his rifle, he dismisses me saying, "very well then. I expect you to play the role well and earn yourself a perfect mark." He turned on his heel and left, creeping once again in his office.

"Thank you father," I whispered to myself. I turned around once again, throwing the front doors open in a dramatic yet victorious manner then ran straight for the school before the hunter could change his mind about shooting down his game.

When I made it to the school doors, I felt a rustling in my chest pocket and looked down to see Plagg holding out the black mask to me. I nervously laughed and took the mask from him, "can't forget this, now can I?" He sank back into my pocket as I slipped the mask on over my eyes and proceeded to the softly push open the doors that separated me from my love.

Scanning the room I laid my eyes on the dark-haired beauty in a red and black dress. I walk a few steps before I notice her begin to turn around. I pause and wait for her to completely see me.

Ahh...my purrinc--

When she entirely turns around I see that the girl is wearing a red mask with makeup and loose curls. I see her begin to blush as she looks me up and down. We both step forward, meeting each other halfway. "My...Lady?" She flinches as if realizing that I'm talking to her,

Letting out a nervous giggle she says, "hey Kitty, long time no see..." I blush as she speaks, her red lipstick clashing with her bluebell eyes, she looked like a breath of fresh air from her usual uniform.

I guess we both had the same idea of how to dress.

Feeling the awkward silence starting to creep up I cla=eared my throat and asked with a little jeer, "what did you come as? My queen?" I laughed as I watched her bush and look to the side holding her arm.

"A-actually...I'm a princess." My laughing faded with every other thought I was processing at that moment.

She looked away embarrassed as I thought over what she just said then remembered, "Oh! Will you help me look for someone?" She perked up and shook her head, a determination in her eyes with still a bit of pink drifting on her cheeks. "Well, her name is Marinette, she has dark hair, she's a few inches shorter than you and has blue eyes. I have no idea what she came as but she said she'd be here." I looked over to Ladybug to see her looking around.

Something seems off about her today...

I walked up to her but before I could say anything she spoke her first, "alright Kitty, do you wanna split up or stay together?" She held determined fists up and waited for my answer in awkward anticipation.

I chuckled and lightly held my hand to her bare shoulder, "let's stay together." With this, I took her hand and led her onto the dance floor, having us swallowed by the crowd of unknowing civilians.

~~~

Marinette's POV

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"Will you help me look for someone?"

Damnit all! I knew he wouldn't forget about seeing 'Marinette.'

It was just me and Chat Noir standing at the edge of the dance floor. He was describing a clumsy girl to me, while I spaced out and looked around for something to take his mind off of finding this girl he'd never see. "alright Kitty, do you wanna split up or stay together?" I waited in an anxious state for him to agree to split up.

But low and behold, he places his hand on my shoulder and says with a wink, "let's go together."

UGH! I wish I could just melt right here, but I'm not myself and he knows that. He thinks I'm just his partner in stopping crime ladybug when really...

I look down at my hand then back at him to see us in the middle of the crowd. People stopped to stare at us was every angle to try and figure out who we were. But that's when I saw him. Through the crowd smirking while tapping his foot and nodding his head to the music, Luka stood gazing at me with a knowing stare.

Crap! I forgot that I told him who I was!

I looked back at Chat to see him searching the crowd for Marinette. He drops my hand for a split-second giving me a chance to sneak over to Luka. "U-uh hey Luka! Can I talk to you for a second...?"

He looked back to where Chat was before I left then extended his hand towards me, "with pleasure mademoiselle." I planted my fingers into his palm as he swiftly pulled me toward the door to the school hallway.

When we were out there, we kept walking until we found an empty classroom to talk in. "Listen Luka...about what I said before, can you not tell people that you know who I am?" I looked up from my twiddling thumbs to see him chuckling to himself.

"Of course Marin-- I mean Ladybug." He winked at me as he corrected himself midsentence.

I smiled back at him as he put his arm out to me initiating me to loop mine in his. When I did, he gracefully pulled me out of the room, but before we walked back into the gym, he placed a small kiss on my cheek. "L-Luka..." I blushed at him and curtsied as he opened the gym doors for me.

"Tell me how it goes...I'll be waiting." We both entered the gym but split off our separate ways.

Luka is so sweet. I hope he really does transfer here with Juleka.

I scanned the room but was stopped when I was pulled behind a pillar. "We need to leave right now." I looked up to see Chat Noir staring at me with serious eyes. Before I could ask why he cut me off, "there's no reason for us to be here, especially if someone were to be akumatized! This was such a stupid idea, I should've known better..." I could hear the sadness in his eyes as he spoke.

Is he upset that 'Marinette' didn't show up? I feel awful, I should've never come as Ladybug, it's ruined everything!

I looked up to see him looking down at the floor. As if by instinct, I cupped his face and whispered into his ear, "dance with me, Kitty."

I hope I'm making the right decision...

At that very moment his head perked up and I saw a red blush creep onto his face. "M-M'lady?" He looked back at me then softly lead me by my waste to the center of the dance floor.

"I know you wanted Mar--" I was surprised to see that he silenced me with his index finger to my lips. I could feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment.

He looked into my eyes and softly spoke, "she's too good for an alley cat like me anyways...just like you bugaboo." His self-deprecation was shining through, as a shadow cast over his eyes.

No Chaton...

As we softly swayed to the music I lifted my head from the comforting heartbeat on his chest, "you're more than good enough for me." I leaned up and softly placed my lips onto his. Both of our cheeks burned with fire, while the smoke within our bellies built up into one explosion of emotions we never knew we felt until now.

I may not know who you are Chaton, but that doesn't make me love you any less...But one thing for sure, I know you like both pieces of who I am.