The next day, Adrien was walking with Nino to class when he got a glimpse of Marinette walking with Alya.

Marinette, his soulmate.

He still couldn't believe that the person she was trying to protect was him. As they were walking, he overheard the two best friends talking.

"So, still no mark?" Alya asked Marinette.

"Yeah, it still hasn't shown up," Marinette morosely.

"Well, be positive! I'm sure it will show up soon!" Alya said, smiling at Marinette.

"I doubt it! Marinette is destined to be alone forever," Chloe said, walking past with a haughty grin.

Marinette lowered her eyes. Adrien was tempted to walk over there and comfort his soulmate, but he couldn't. Her soulmate was Cat Noir, not Adrien. He couldn't do anything, not yet anyway. He knew that one day he would reveal his identity to her, but that day will have to wait. He had to be patient.

As Alya and Marinette went to class, Alya was trying to comfort Marinette.

"It'll show up! I'm sure of it!" Alya said.

"Thanks, Alya," Marinette said.

She was grateful she had such a good friend as Alya to stand by her, but she hated lying to her. She didn't know how long she could keep up this lie before Alya saw through it. Marinette sighed and took her seat in class.

Once the lesson started, she tried her hardest to pay attention, but she couldn't. She had too much on her mind, what with lying to Alya, and her problems with Adrien and Cat Noir.

After school, Marinette went home. Sitting on her bed, she was completely silent. Tikki regarded her with concern, trying to cheer her up.

"I need to clear my head. Tikki, spots on," Marinette said, rising from her seated position with a determined expression.

Ladybug transformed and went out on patrol early. She looked around and saw many couples happily walking around. Kissing, holding hands, and just chatting, all the while looking in each other's eyes. She looked at them, filled with sadness, and sighed. Would she and Cat Noir ever have that? She continued patrolling Paris, observing the beautiful city she called home. When she got to the park, she saw Adrien, Nino and Alya hanging out, sitting on the edge of the fountain. Ladybug remembered Alya asking her to come and hang out with them, but she hadn't really been in the mood, and she was trying to let go of her feelings for Adrien. That meant time apart.

"Marinette couldn't come today. Sorry, guys," Alya was currently explaining. Ladybug felt a pang, and in that moment, she wished she were with them. Even if she was trying to get over her crush.

"Oh, bummer," Nino replied.

"I think she's still getting over the fact she didn't get a mark, but I'm sure she'll get it. Everything happens for a reason, right?" Alya said.

"Yeah..." Adrien replied.

Ladybug then decided to swing past and caught Alya's attention.

"Ladybug!" Alya called out excitedly

"Ladybug stopped and looked over at them, pretending to be surprised, then smiled.

"Hey, Alya!"

"Ladybug, what are you doing today? There hasn't been an akuma, right?" Alya asked, obviously alarmed at the thought she missed another one of Hawkmoth's victims. Ladybug had to fight a laugh. Same old Alya.

"Oh, nothing like that! I was just patrolling the city," she explained.

"Well in that case, can I get in a quick interview?" Alya asked, getting out her phone.

Ladybug laughed. "Just a few questions, alright?" she said, coming closer to Alya.

"Alright!" she said.

"Okay, first question, have you found your soulmate?" Alya asked.

Ladybug winced slightly. That was not exactly the question she wanted to be asked right now. "I have," she replied.

"Does he know you're Ladybug?" Alya asked.

"No, but I plan to tell him in the future,"Ladybug said.

"Is your soulmate Cat Noir?" She asked.

Ladybug hesitated. If she were to be honest, and Cat Noir saw this interview, her secret identity would be revealed.

"I'll let you figure out that one," she said with a practiced grin. "Anyway, I've got to go. It's almost time for me to patrol with Cat Noir," she said. "Have a nice night!" She threw her yo-yo and travelled to the Eiffel Tower. After a couple minutes, Cat Noir showed up.

"Good evening, M'Lady," he said.

"Good evening, Cat," she said.

"So, any luck with your soulmate?" Ladybug asked, even though she already knew the answer from him telling her as Marinette.

"No, not yet. I plan to see her after patrol," he replied.

"That's good," Ladybug said with a smile.

They sat in a comfortable silence until Cat Noir spoke up. "So, how's your soulmate?" he asked.

"He's good. We haven't spent as much time together as I would have liked, but when you're a superhero there's not much you can do about it," she said.

He nodded, understanding. "That's true." He really was a great guy, and she wished she could just completely forget Adrien and love only him.

"We should start patrol now," Ladybug said, breaking their gaze.

"Yeah, see you in a bit," Cat Noir said.

Once they had finished, they met up at the Eiffel Tower as usual."So, you better get going Cat, don't want to keep your soulmate waiting," she said.

"No, I guess not. Goodnight, Ladybug," he said.

"Goodnight Cat Noir," she said and watched him leave, in a kind of trance. Suddenly she realized something. He was heading to her house, and she wasn't there. Uh oh...

Ladybug went as quickly as she could and then detransformed a block from her house, just in case Cat Noir was near. Then she snuck into her room without her parents noticing right before she heard a knock on the window. She opened it and was greeted by a pair of green eyes.

"Hey, Cat Noir," she said, unsure of what to really say.

"Hey Marinette," he replied.

Marinette let him in, and he sat on her bed. There was a moment of silence.

"Marinette, I'm sorry about the way I acted before, I was just so shocked, you never said a word," he said.

"I'm sorry too. I kept it a secret that you were my soulmate it's just that I didn't know what to do. I've been lying to everyone at school in order to protect you, but I was just unsure. You're a superhero and I'm just, I'm just Marinette, I guess," she said.

"So? You're a wonderful girl Marinette, smart, caring, compassionate and creative. You don't need to be a superhero for me to see that," Cat Noir said gently, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. She stared at his gloved hand, then slowly reached up and took it. She brough it down and stared at their entwined hands. He breathed in and out, staring too, then looked back up at her.

"Maybe, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't hoping for Ladybug to be your soulmate," she said.

Cat Noir was silent for a moment.

"I guess I didn't want to be compared to the girl you've made it so obvious you love," she said.

"I would never compare you," Cat Noir said.

"Really?" Marinette asked.

"I won't lie and say I didn't love ladybug, but she's not my soulmate, you are, and that means you are made for me, just as I am made for you. Please understand it wasn't my intention to make you feel like you had to be compared with ladybug, to walk in her shadow," Cat Noir said, squeezing her hand tighter. His was warm, and comforted her.

Marinette was silent. She thought about what he had said to her as ladybug. He did really care about her as Marinette.

"Thank you Cat Noir, I really needed to hear that," Marinette said.

Cat Noir smiled.

"Anytime princess," he said.

They were both silent for a moment before Cat Noir sighed.

"I should get going, I shouldn't be away from home for too long," he said. He unraveled their fingers very slowly, as if he didn't want to let go, and her heart pounded.

He walked towards the window and was about to leave when he stopped and turned around.

"I'll visit you tomorrow, okay?" he said.

"Okay," Marinette said.

After Cat Noir left, Marinette sank down onto her bed. They'd held hands. He didn't want to compare her to Ladybug, her alter ego. He just wanted her. It made her feel incredibly happy, and she could at least start to let go of all the fears.

Tikki flew out from Marinette's purse.

"See, Marinette? There's nothing to worry about. He wants to love you for you, not to compare you to his partner Ladybug," she said.

"Yeah, I guess," she said slowly.

He wanted to love her for her. If he was willing to do that, it was only fair she did the same. She had to stop comparing him to Adrien and love him for him, just as he said he would for her. If they could do that, then they would be able to get through any obstacles.

Together.