5 The Search

Chat Noir's POV

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I skipped from building to building in a trance of what Ladybug just said. "I can finally ask Marinette if she wants to go to the dance with me! She's going to love it, I know she will!" I screamed from the top of my lungs, having it echo across the top of the skyline. "My princess, I'M COMING!"

I landed on her balcony again and slowly and quietly opened the trapdoor. Once again, she was nowhere to be seen.

Sitting there waiting for what seemed like hours, I heard a creak and turned to see Mari open the door connected to the rest of her home. I snuck behind a wall and waited to scare her, " *sigh~* What am I gonna do for Halloween now Ti--"

"BOO!" I jumped out at her making her stumble back and fall to the floor. I started doubling over in laughter as she was hyperventilating on the floor clutching her chest. I wiped my tears away and offered her my hand. She timidly took it and slowed her breathing. "I'm sorry for scaring you princess, I'm just trying to get in the Halloween spirit so I can have the courage to ask you something..."

I looked up to see her blushing and looking away from me as she clutched her arm awkwardly. "Ch-Chat—" I put a silencing figure to her lips then got down on one knee.

"Marinette...Will you go to the Halloween dance with me...A-as Chat Noir?" I looked up at her with hopeful eyes, but when she pulled her hand away and looked to the side my heart sank.

"I-I'm sorry Chat I-I can't go with you..." She turned around and tried to walk away but I quickly got up and grabbed her hand again.

Turning her around I pleaded, "But why? Have I done something wrong these past few days?" The emotions in me started to swell up and I feared I might break any moment, "please Marinette...Just give me one good reason!" I looked down at our feet in fear of a cold rejection from my warm-hearted princess.

"Because...You're Chat Noir...How could I ever stand by your side with everyone watching you...You should stand with Ladybug." She shook under my gaze as I saw a single droplet fall and hit the floor.

I lifted her face and grinned as wide as I could, "then why don't you be my Ladybug that night?"

She looked up at me in surprise as I cupped her face. "B-But Chaton....!" I silenced her with a kiss and softly spoke, "That or...your could be my princess." I backed away just an inch so I could see the beautiful red blush blending with her familiarly, famous freckles.

She flung her arms around me and whispered into my ear, "I'll be your lady." I stood shocked for a moment.

Maybe it's just a coincidence...Or maybe she's dropping a hint!

I looked back at her beaming with happiness and at that moment decided that it didn't matter whether she meant it or not, because either way she was still mine, and I was hers.

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Marinette's POV

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It's the night of the ball and I'm just now finishing up the dress I'm making for my princess costume.

Yes...I said, princess.

It's not that I'm doing this because Chat gave me two options, but because I really do want to be his...And there was really only one proper way to show it!

I flung the dress through the air so the ruffles flew in the air spreading out making a mystical effect as I twirled. "HeeHeeHee~ Marinette, it's beautiful! Chat Noir will definitely love it!" Tikki smiled at me as she flew around it and myself. "But you have to hurry! The dance starts in an hour!"

"AN HOUR!?!" I flew from my work station leaving the dress and into the bathroom to take a shower and do my hair and makeup. After about half an hour I walked out with a light smokey-eye, red lips, and curly letdown hair. "Do you think this is too much Tikki?"

She flew over and gasped when she saw me, "Not at all Marinette! You're beautiful as always! Now get your dress on and get going before your late!" I looked at the time and saw that I'd be a little late.

I shrugged my shoulders and joked, "at least I'll be fashionably late~!" We both laughed as I walked over to my dressed and wiggled myself into it. "Maybe I should've just gone with the suit!" She giggles at me as I pulled my head through the rest of the way.

"Too many layers for you?"

"Just a tad..." We both laughed as turned to look in the mirror.

"Woah Marinette..." She looked me up and down and was basically as speechless as I was. "You only had a week to do the whole thing too...You're amazing~!" She hugged my cheek as I smiled back.

"Thanks, Tikki, I really wanted it to be something special, especially since..." I trailed off and turned over to my work station and looked at the pictures of my friends. I picked up a picture of Adrien and sighed, "especially since Chat actually likes me back."

I huffed a sigh and sat on the ground in my puffy gown. I looked at the picture of Adrien again and covered my face with my hands in annoyance.

After a while, I got up and saw that it was almost 8 p.m. and decided to head out. Putting on my black two-inch heels, I grabbed my purse and ushered for Tikki to get inside then left.

I said goodbye to my parents and started walking to school. But I stopped halfway and started to panic. "Tikki, what is he doesn't show up? Th-then I'll look like a fool in there! I-I can't go!" I turned around and started walking home but then stopped again. "B-but what if he does show up!? Then I'd be standing him up!"

I could hear her sigh from inside my bag.

I stood there for a while thinking over and over some excuses I could use if he didn't show up. "I-I could just say I wanted to go as a 1800s princess? Yeah...uh, let's go with that!" I made up my mind and slowly but surely made my way to the school's darkly lit gym.

Before I even stepped inside, I felt a rustle in my bag and looked down to see it pop open, "psst! Don't forget this!" I looked down to see the mask I had made to match the dress in Tikki's small hands.

"Oh! You're a lifesaver Tikki!" She giggled as I took the mask from her and carefully put it on. I sucked in a small breath and let it out strongly.

Alright, Dupain-Cheng...Time to be ready for anything!

I opened the gym doors to be greeted by disco and party lights. It was hard to pick out people's faces from this far, so I stepped in and walked around looking for people I knew. As I walked around I bumped into a boy dressed as a Vampire. I looked closer to see that it was, "Luka?!" I gave him a big hug.

He looked a bit confused at first but when I slipped my mask off to show him then slyly put it back on, his face immediately lit up. "Marinette? You look stunning, did you make this?" I blushed at the comment and started telling him about how I made it.

Suddenly I felt the urge to look towards the door. I turned to see Chat Noir staring straight at me, his cheeks flushed red as he stood there in, not his usual uniform, but something more...prince-like