17Disclaimer: I do not own the Miraculous Ladybug series.
Timeline: Aged up characters, but no spoilers for or events from season 4.
"Don't be bemused, it's just the news. Is trouble on the horizon for Paris's it couple?" Nadja Chamack said on live television for the eyes and ears of thousands nationwide. "Pictures have surfaced of resident superhero, Chat Noir, and world famous fashion designer, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, having a midnight rendezvous together."
The images in question popped up on the screen and the viewers saw a picture of a fancy party in a large, well-lit mansion. The event hosted many celebrities, one of which was Marinette. In the first picture of the slide, she stood still, posing with her hair down for the occasion and adorning a beautiful red gown that she had made herself. In the next picture, she walked out on the balcony to get some fresh air and be alone for a minute when she found Chat Noir crouched on the ledge, supposedly waiting for her.
The camera angle then changed, snapping pictures from a perspective that made it obvious that the feline superhero and celebrity designer were unaware that they were being watched. Marinette chatted with the hero for a few minutes before he leaned in closer, giving her his best flirty wink. He held out a red rose to her, which he pulled out from who-knows-where.
This caused Marinette to blush a light shade of pink at his gesture and then accept the gift, before standing up on her tippy-toes to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
The pictures froze on the last one of Marinette kissing Chat Noir and Nadja's voice played in the background. "While nothing has been proven, these pictures paint quite the story. Is Marinette Dupain-Cheng just thanking the leather-clad hero for all the work he's done to protect this city, or is there something more between the two of them that we just don't know? If there is, are their two significant others aware of this? We have a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. More updates will be coming soon with interviews with Marinette's closest friends. I'm Nadja Chamack, and this is Side by Side."
"Ugh!" Marinette groaned to herself as she walked down the streets of Paris. She felt absolutely sick to her stomach and felt an impending headache.
Every phone, television screen, and newspaper had her and Chat Noir's face plastered on it with the headline "Trouble in Paradise?" or something equally as cheesy.
When she walked by people who recognized her, she received giant glares and loud whispers behind her back. It shouldn't have bothered her too much. After all, these were strangers that she hardly knew.
Who cared if they thought badly of her? That they thought she was a no-good, traitorous cheating… cheat! Oh, who was she kidding? Of course she cared!
One of the bolder strangers approached her on her path home and confronted her passionately. "How could you do this?" the middle age woman screeched. "How could you break up the bond between Chat Noir and Ladybug with your wanton ways?"
"Wanton ways?" Marinette echoed dully.
"And you?" the woman pointed a finger at the young designer. "Aren't you married as well? How dare you break the sanctity of marriage by being such a—"
"Look, ma'am," Marinette interrupted before she had to listen to any more slander. "I assure you that there is nothing going on between me and Chat Noir. I would never cheat on my husband."
Noticing the conflict, a crowd had collected around them to watch the confrontation and another stranger, this time, a young boy piped up, "But this isn't the first time that you and Chat Noir have been spotted together, is it?" he asked accusingly.
There was a murmur of agreement that spread through the crowd and Marinette winced at the response. "He's just a very good friend!" she protested.
"Haven't you helped Chat Noir during some of the Akuma attacks in the past?"
"As friends!"
"And doesn't he flirt with you all the time?"
"He does that with everybody! It's just his personality!"
"And didn't your father become akumatized because you two were dating?" A girl asked.
"Umm…" Marinette was at a loss for words. She wondered how all these random people knew so much about her life.
Realizing there was only so much she could say and none of it would convince the gossipers of her fidelity, Marinette pushed past the crowd and continued the rest of the way home.
Her phone continued to blow up with notifications from friends, family, and even acquaintances she hadn't spoken to in years reaching out to assure her that they believed that she would never cheat on her spouse and that the whole scandal was a sham.
It reassured her that some people still trusted her and believed that she was still good at heart, even though the rest of the world questioned it. She tried to convince herself that it didn't matter what the world thought and it only mattered that the people closest to her still believed in her integrity, but as the dirty looks of passersby intensified, Marinette found it harder and harder to keep that line of thinking on track.
Once she entered the house, her phone pressed to her ear, Marinette kicked off her high heel shoes and flopped on the couch pathetically.
"And I really am sorry, Marinette," Nadja's voice projected through her phone. "I know you would never cheat on your husband, but the story was just too good to pass up. Don't worry though. I'm sure the heat will pass in a few days and everyone will forget it ever happened!"
"Mmhh." Marinette pursed her lips. She was still angry, but she really didn't have the energy to start a fight.
"Again, Marinette, I do apologize for whatever stress may come from this. If you want, I can talk to Adrien and assure him that the story really doesn't mean anything," Nadja added. "I—"
"That really won't be necessary. I think you've done enough, Nadja," Marinette cut in abruptly stopping the older reporter.
"Oh," Nadja paused for a moment and her voice sounded incredibly guilty. "I don't think I can ever apologize enough."
Marinette softened at the guilt and she rubbed her eyes tiredly as she leaned back into the couch. "It's alright, Nadja. You're a reporter and it's your job to report on things like this. I understand even though I admit, I was hurt when I saw the news. But my relationship with Adrien is stronger than the rumor mill." She hesitated before adding, "And so is Chat Noir and Ladybug's relationship… I'm sure."
After she finished saying her goodbyes and giving her love to Manon, Marinette cut off the phone, throwing it to the other side of the couch. She sighed once more as she had a feeling that this was going to be a very long week. Once she heard the news at work, her co-workers insisted she take the rest of the day off and spend some time away from the public eye. Marinette had reluctantly agreed, but still insisted on working from home.
She pulled off her stockings and got off the couch to make herself a cup of steaming hot tea, one of the few things she could actually tolerate nowadays. Once she was changed into a soft, stretchy pair of sweatpants and a baggy shirt, feeling more comfortable, she settled back down and pulled out her notebook to work out a couple of the finishing touches on her designs.
As she sketched, she couldn't help but let her mind wander off to her husband who was currently at work. She wondered if he had heard the news and how he reacted to it.
She didn't have to wonder for too long because soon enough, she heard the sound of the fire escape opening and the pitter patter of light footsteps easing its way into their home. It was one of the reasons they chose this home as the place to begin their life together. It was small and quaint and had the perfect entrance and exit for their superhero personalities to sneak in and out by.
"Look who it is," Marinette drawled, not lifting her gaze up from her sketchbook. "The man I'm supposedly having an affair with."
"Supposedly?" Chat Noir bantered. "Did you see those pictures and that steamy cheek kiss? We were basically incriminating ourselves."
Marinette groaned, throwing her head back on the arm of the couch and dropping her book to her lap. "This is so not funny, kitty."
"Oh, come on, princess." Chat Noir went to the couch where his wife laid out dramatically and flopped on top of her, gently laying his head on her chest. "It kinda is."
While her eyes gave him a withering glare, her hands immediately went for his soft, golden hair and brushed it gently letting him know it wasn't really him who she was mad at.
Chat Noir purred when her fingers scratched lightly at his scalp and he turned his head to the side so Marinette could scratch at the other side of his ears.
"I think I spoil you too much, kitty," she hummed.
"I don't think you spoil me enough, m'lady."
"Why haven't you changed out of your suit yet?" Marinette asked, her chin tilting down to look at the superhero who laid between her legs.
"Well, at first, I didn't change cause I thought you were mad at me and I figured it would be nice to have an extra tough suit of protection around me." He lifted his head from his resting place to find his wife sticking her tongue out at him and grinned cheekily. "Then, I realized that my princess has a thing for lovers in leather so…" He placed a light kiss on her sternum and Marinette bit her lower lip.
"What if I'm still mad at you?" she asked, her voice sounding lower and more flirtatious, the complete opposite of mad.
"That would be very un-fur-tunate." Chat Noir pulled himself up, bracing his hands on either side of Marinette's head, and then leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek. "A total cat-astrophe." He went a little lower and kissed her neck.
Marinette hummed again. "Your cat puns are not helping."
"I could make ladybug puns instead," he offered, kissing down her body.
"Adrien," she said, sounding slightly out of breath under his ministrations. "I—"
"Ladybug," he replied, his voice sounding deeper and huskier. "Cat spot your tongue?"
At that, Marinette pushed him off, rolling her eyes, while Chat Noir rolled off the couch effortlessly and raised two fists in a victory stance. "Oh, yeah! Two puns in a row! Did you catch that, m'lady?"
Marinette used the palms of her hands to cover her eyes and she shifted so her feet touched the ground as she sat up. "What are we gonna do, Adrien?" Her shoulders slouched in defeat and her head dropped to the ground. "The whole world hates me for cheating on you with you!"
"Hey, now," Chat Noir said soothingly, kneeling on the floor beside her. He took one of her hands in his and rubbed her knuckles soothingly through the leather of his suit. "The world hates Chat Noir too, right?"
"Not really," Marinette bit out. "Chat is a superhero and I'm the floozy who apparently tricked him into getting into bed with me."
"That's stupid," Chat Noir said. "I'm equally to blame for this!"
"Equally?" Marinette exclaimed. "You gave me the red rose!"
"Yes, equally! You kissed me on the cheek!" Chat Noir protested.
"Because you gave me the rose!"
"Because you looked so pretty, I couldn't resist!"
"Ugh," Marinette fell back against the couch. "Why are you so sweet?"
Chat Noir shrugged, the corner of his lips quirking up in a small smile. "Part of the Chat Noir charm."
"And now the whole world thinks we're sleeping together."
"Technically, we are." At Marinette's look, he rescinded, "Uh, kidding?" Then, he sighed, "Look, Marinette, I know it might seem like the end of the world, but trust me, I've had my fair share of bad press back when I was still a model and I'm telling you that it goes away after a little while. Trust me, nobody is going to remember this ever happened."
"I know, I know. It just sucks."
"I know, princess." He got up from his spot on the floor and took a seat next to her on the couch. Marinette placed her head on his shoulder and they sat in comfortable silence for a moment.
Feeling better, Marinette turned her head to give her husband a kiss. He reciprocated and they continued from where they left off (before Chat Noir ruined it with his claw-ful cat puns).
Marinette maneuvered her body so she sat on Chat Noir's lap and kissed him fiercely, her arms wrapping around the back of his neck and fingers fisting his golden locks. At Marinette's sounds of encouragement, Chat Noir snuck his hands under her shirt feeling her smooth skin. They continued their dance with less and less barriers between them.
Once they were deep into their game, Marinette pulled away breathlessly. "Did you hear that?"
Chat Noir blinked twice, already missing the feeling of her warmth. "Hmm?"
"Never mind, I'm sure it's nothing."
She leaned back in to continue their make out session when suddenly the front door swung open and, "Marinette, we heard the news and we wanted to let you know that we're on your side and suppor— OH MY GOD!"
Like a cat that just got doused in water, Chat Noir jumped a foot in the air and stared at the two intruding guests for two seconds.
Alya and Nino stared right back, eyes wide and mouths gaping.
Then, the hero put the fire escape to good use and simply booked it, jumping out of the exit gracefully and disappearing into the night.
Marinette had used that time to cover up and was currently pulling her shirt back on, which had fortunately not fallen too far from her.
"Um… hi…" Marinette squeaked.
Two sets of wide eyes and gaping mouths turned comically from their gaze of the fire escape to the girl with mussed up hair and wrinkled clothes that had been haphazardly thrown back on.
Alya was the first to break the silence. "Hi?" she said, her voice low and threatening. "Hi? HI?"
"Umm…" Marinette turned even redder than before, shrinking into the couch. She wished to be anywhere but here. "I can explain," she said slowly, even though she knew there really was no possible way to explain without identities being revealed and secrets being exposed.
"What's there to explain?" Alya asked, her voice going from low and threatening to louder and more menacing. "Nino and I came to visit you after hearing all those rumors because we thought you would be upset that people thought you were cheating on your husband, but it actually turns out they were right? We just walked in on you having sex with Chat Noir!"
"We weren't…" Marinette stuttered. "It wasn't… I mean, we were kissing, but—"
"Dear god, are you really talking semantics right now? You were in a compromising position with a man that is not your husband." Alya had her hands on her hips and walked closer to her best friend in the whole world. "What the hell is wrong with you, Marinette? I thought you were better than this!"
"I—"
"I really, really thought you were better than this!" Alya threw her hands in the air and Marinette flinched. "Never in a million years would I have imagined—"
"How could you do this to Adrien?" Nino spoke up for the first time since the two of them barged in. "How do you think he'd feel?"
The two girls quieted immediately and turned to the man, who had silently put his hands in his pocket and dropped his head. While his wife was loud and vocal about her disappointment, Nino was quieter and more thoughtful. While Alya questioned Marinette's integrity, angered at her infidelity and her life choices, Nino was more concerned about his own best friend and how Adrien's feelings and future played into all of this.
Somehow, to Marinette, his silent disappointment felt worse.
She pictured Adrien with heartbroken eyes and quivering lips if he ever heard news that saddened him. She hated seeing the love of her life in misery. Despite knowing that Adrien would not be saddened by the fact that she was making out with him, Marinette felt tears well up in her eyes. Even the thought of being the cause of Adrien's pain caused her great anguish.
"Nino, you know I would never do anything to hurt Adrien," she sniffled.
"You won't," he said gruffly. "Not anymore. You tell him as soon as he gets home or I will."
"I…" Marinette closed her eyes, releasing the last of her tears. "Okay."
Right on cue, the man of the hour walked in. His years of modeling and acting paid off as he put on an unassuming smile and swung the door wide open. "Honey, I'm hooo..." His voice died down as he took in the site of his two friends glaring down at his heartbroken wife. "Marinette, why are you crying?"
"Adrien, I— I'm sorry!" She burst into tears once again at the sight of him.
He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. Marinette genuinely looked distraught at the sight of him. Sure, the girl had spent many, many years keeping up her double identity, so her acting skills weren't terrible, but it still wasn't this good. He could tell that his wife was actually upset.
"Marinette, tell me what's wrong," he said softly, pushing Nino and Alya away to crouch by her side. "I'm here."
"Tell him, Marinette," Alya growled. "Tell him what you did."
"Wait," Adrien looked between Marinette and the other couple. "Is this about the Chat Noir thing? Because Marinette and I already talked about it and—"
"It's true," Nino butt in abruptly, "And it's better that you know now. I know it might hurt, but it's better in the long run to—"
Adrien went back to ignoring the two of them and turned his full attention back to his tearful wife. "But why are you crying, sweetheart? It's okay."
"Did you not just hear us?" Alya seethed. "She cheated on you with—"
"But why is she crying?" Adrien exploded. Did their friends really hurt her that much for his sake? He would never want that. Even if Marinette ever did anything to hurt him, he would never retaliate and he would never want someone to retaliate on his behalf.
He swiftly pulled her into a hug and she leaned completely into him as he rose on his knees to envelope her in his arms. Whispering in her ear so no one else could hear, he said, "It's not real, princess. I know you won't hurt me."
Rather than having the calming effect Adrien hoped his words would have, the opposite happened as Marinette began to cry even more. She gripped his shirt tighter and her tears began to soak through the fabric of his cotton button down.
"It's probably the hormones," Alya bit out. "And now, who even knows if it's yours or that mangy cat's baby!"
"Wait." Adrien's head turned a little cloudy as his mind began whirring rapidly; Alya wasn't making any sense. "Hormones?" he asked.
"Pregnancy hormones."
"Pregnancy?" Adrien echoed hollowly. "Hormones."
"Is it?" Alya asked, turning her attention back to Marinette. "Is it Chat Noir's baby?"
"Baby?" Adrien said, his brain still processing everything that was being thrown at him. "We… Marinette, are we…"
Marinette sniffled as she pulled away from her husband. She gave him a small smile and used the back of her wrist to wipe away the tears. "I was trying to find a good moment to tell you. I wanted to surprise you, but yeah, Adrien, you're gonna be a father."
"I…" Adrien blinked, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. "Marinette, we… we're gonna be parents!"
"Yeah." The girl nodded and hugged her husband close once more, more tears falling from both their eyes, but this time for good reasons.
"Um, hello?" Alya said, while Nino cleared his throat awkwardly.
Adrien turned to address them. "Guys, can you leave? We're kinda having a moment here."
"But, Chat Noir…"
"It's not Chat Noir's baby," Adrien butt in, annoyance clear in his tone.
"How do you—"
"Because he's neutered!" Marinette blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
Adrien choked on his spit. "Um, wha—" Marinette elbowed him in the stomach, effectively shutting him up.
Alya and Nino exchanged bewildered glances. "Okay, we don't even wanna know how that works, but you still cheated on your husband, Marinette," Alya said, while Nino exclaimed, "How could you be okay with all of this, Adrien?"
"I'm sleeping with Ladybug!" Adrien let the cat out of the bag.
The two interrogators gasped in sync at the revelation. Marinette took one of the throw pillows laying nearby and stuffed her face into it. The lie train was derailing very, very quickly.
"Yeah," Adrien cleared his throat, blushing a bright red, "So, um, we have an agreement. A Love Square of sorts where we're all, um, happy."
"So, you and Ladybug…" Nino said in disbelief.
"And you and Chat Noir," Alya said, looking at Marinette.
The couple in question nodded slowly, carefully watching the reactions on their friends' faces.
"And the two of you are still together?" Nino continued.
"And so are Ladybug and Chat Noir?" Alya finished.
"Yep," the superhero duo said in sync, popping the 'p'.
"Oh," Alya looked over at her husband, who was rubbing the back of his neck trying to look anywhere but at the other people in the room. "Um, well. We're glad you have an… understanding and um, we support whatever mutual decisions you come up with that works for your relationship. Um… sorry about barging in. Congrats on the… superhero sex…"
Marinette blushed. "Uh, thanks…"
"So, uh," Alya grabbed Nino's hand and began pulling him to the door. "We'll just be… um, okay."
Once the door slammed shut, finally leaving husband and wife alone again, the two of them let out a giant breath of relief and leaned back, melting completely into their soft couch.
"You know, it was your idea to give them a key to our place," Adrien reminded.
"For emergencies!" Marinette groaned, "This is a disaster!"
"I don't think it went too bad." Adrien shrugged. "Alya was a bit too harsh though."
"She was only standing up for you," Marinette defended her friend. "You should probably send her a fruit basket or something."
"For harassing you?"
"For having your back!" Marinette asserted. "I'm glad she and Nino were as forward as they were. I'm glad they tried to protect you and didn't try to justify my actions."
"Yeah, I suppose. They're good people." Adrien frowned. "But they still made you cry."
"Ah," Marinette waved her hand, dismissing the objection. "Like Alya said, it's probably just the pregnancy hormones. Yesterday, I saw two squirrels sharing a stale croissant and I cried for like ten minutes."
"Hmm," Adrien said, "And you have been eating a surprising amount of pickles and peanut butter lately. I feel like I probably should have known sooner."
"They were sharing the pastry," Marinette said, her thoughts still on the two squirrels. Her eyes began to tear up again and she sniffled, "They're probably soulmates who love each other and share everything in life together. I bet they built a home together in the trees at the park and have a nest of babies. They were made for each other! It was just so beautiful!"
Adrien looked at his wife fondly, pulling out a clean handkerchief for her to blow her nose into. "Just think," he said lovingly, "in a couple of months we could have a little Adrien or a little Chat Noir running around this little house."
"Oh, shut up, Adrien. Plus, rumor has it that the kitty doesn't have any—"
"I can't believe you told them that!"
Author's Note: Lol poor neutered kitty. I had this sitting in my drafts for a while and decided to post it. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this one shot! Please leave a review if you did cause it would make me happy :)