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Everyone was there, gathered outside the museum, waiting for the heroes to appear. After they defeated Hawk Moth, the citizens created a commemorative museum, with photos of them and a statue in the middle of the hall. With the intention of being able to formally thank them for all they had done for them.
Although before that, they asked the heroes to reveal their identities that same day, they even formed petitions, where a large part of the population signed, because everyone wanted to know the person who was hiding behind the mask. The person who had saved them countless times.
The day arrived and the agreed time was approaching, the hands marking the passage of time making their characteristic sound. Everyone nervous waiting for the appearance of the heroes, that's why the citizens looked around with the hope of spotting them, while others watched in front of the stage where the red ribbon was to be cut.
The time came. However, the heroes did not make their appearance, but the inhabitants were still expectant in case they appeared. Five minutes passed, then ten, up to half an hour and when some were about to leave, the heroes appeared by separate paths, Ladybug on the left and Chat Noir on the right, greeting animatedly at least on the part of the kitten, since Ladybug did it in a very shy way, the nerves were eating her away.
Until they stopped in front of the inhabitants of Paris, the hearts of the heroes were beating erratically, like those of the citizens who had already taken out their cameras and started taking photos and some with their video cameras or cell phones to record the moment, highly anxious.
Until one could not hold back and with his microphone asked that question to the heroes, which everyone wanted to ask...
"Will you reveal your identities?"
They smiled, looked at each other, where Chat took the opportunity to hold out his hand to his Lady. Then in those milliseconds that their eye contact lasted, Ladybug accepted his hand and joined their hands, interlocking their fingers, in that soothing grip.
They looked out again and nodded in unison to the spectators.
"Are you ready, kitty?" Ladybug asked, feeling a slight tremor for what she was about to do.
"Only if you are, my Lady," he replied with a smile.
"Okay, on the count of three," she proposed, and Chat nodded.
Upon finishing the count, their suits began to disappear, while the red and green light appeared, which blended together. Meanwhile, the citizens could not keep up with the number of photos they were taking.
Until finally, the detransformation was over, showing the people behind the mask. They were dressed formally, Marinette wearing a red polka dot dress that she had designed herself, and Adrien in a black suit.
With their identities now exposed, all the inhabitants of Paris let out a cry of amazement as they looked at the heroes. However, the inhabitants of Paris were not the only ones who were surprised when Ladybug and Chat Noir revealed their identities.
Just by turning their heads and looking at each other, they could not help but dilate their pupils and drop their jaws, the words getting stuck in their throats, feeling the warm grip that had not loosened despite the surprise.
After a few seconds, they articulated the name of the person standing in front of them in unison, but after that they said nothing more. Only the sound of the flashes was the only thing that could be heard, while the heroes did not avert their gaze from them, blushing.
This silence was interrupted by the mayor, who, with a cough, handed the giant scissors to Ladybug and Chat Noir so they could cut the red ribbon. They took it, and still a little bewildered, they cut the ribbon, and when they did, an euphoric scream was heard.
When the mayor told them to go through. Marinette couldn't take it anymore. Then, little by little, she was sliding her fingers to loosen her grip, until she finally did it, she let go, looked at the mayor, Adrien and the spectators, before running away.
Adrien didn't understand anything, he just looked at her back, and her dress that was being blown by the wind, producing a swaying motion. However, after a few seconds, he went after her.
"Wait, Marinette," Adrien asked as he ran trying to catch up to her.
But she didn't listen and kept running, even though she didn't know where to go, she didn't want to stay with Adrien and just thinking about him made her want to scream, she couldn't believe that all this time her battle partner, that affectionate, flirtatious and foolish cat hero of Paris, was the kind, chivalrous Adrien Agreste that she had loved for years.
And the worst part is that all this time he was by her side, she didn't have the slightest suspicion that he could be Chat Noir. She felt stupid and when she thought about the things she had done with the kitty when it was actually Adrien, she couldn't help but blush.
"Marinette," he called again. "Are you disappointed?... Is that why you're running away?" He asked as he stopped, trying to catch his breath, while he kept his eyes on Marinette's back.
"Disappointed?"
The accused repeated that word in her mind, at that question, she stopped and turned her head, colliding the blue and the green, while the hair of the two moved in rhythm with the wind.
"No, that's not it, Adrien," she said, shaking her head. "I could never be," she whispered, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Then why are you running away?" He asked, coming a little closer.
"Because I still can't assimilate that you are Chat Noir," she replied, biting her lower lip and avoiding his gaze.
"I disappointed you," he stated, and she denied it again.
"No, of course not, but are you disappointed in me?" She asked, looking into those green eyes intently.
"Why would I be? You're amazing with or without the mask and I'll always love the girl behind it," he confessed, while his cheeks took on a reddish hue and Marinette's did too upon hearing what he just said.
"Adrien, I'm not disappointed that you're Chat Noir, I'm just surprised that the boy I've loved for years is my battle partner that I've always rejected," she declared, no longer looking at him.
"D-do you love me?" He asked, surprised, and she nodded.
They remained silent for a few seconds, while Adrien kept closing the distance, until he was only inches away from her.
"I didn't tell you before, but you look beautiful, Marinette."
"Thank you, y-you too... I mean, not beautiful, well, yes, but what I mean is that you look very handsome today, n-not that you didn't look handsome yesterday or the day before. B-better I shut up," she interrupted herself, giving a nervous smile, and he laughed. Meanwhile, he looked at her, resting his green eyes, which caused Marinette to feel like she was melting. And her legs almost gave way when she heard his request...
"Can I kiss you?"
Hearing that, that question repeated itself several times in her head, feeling her face was hot and extremely red, in addition to feeling her accelerated heartbeats. She shyly nodded and looked into his eyes before closing them, he approached and closing his eyes as well, he kissed those lips he had long desired to taste, they were soft and before the intensity increased. In the bushes and behind the trees, a sound was heard...
"Aww"
Followed by some flashes. Noticing this, the heroes blushed and looked at each other, the same idea coming to them, for that reason, in unison they pronounced...
"Transformation"
This caused the Kwamis that were hiding with their respective favorite foods, Tikki in Marinette's purse and Plagg in Adrien's jacket pocket, to be sucked into their own Miraculous. Giving way to Ladybug and Chat Noir.
"Let's escape, my Lady," the kitten offered her his hand, which she accepted herself and grasping his hand, they interlocked their fingers.
"With pleasure, Chat Noir," she replied, tightening her grip.
With this, in front of the eyes of the frantic journalists trying to take photos of the heroes of Paris, they disappeared, and as they fled, they heard the incessant sounds of the cameras, or the dazzling flashes that momentarily illuminated them.
And the next day, the heroes would find another surprise in the morning. Which is that of appearing on the front page of the newspapers, in all the news, as well as on the websites and also receiving calls from all their friends, not to mention what their family would say.
Yes, it was a real surprise for everyone.