When Adrien got home, he was hurt and confused. He wanted to help Marinette, but she was shutting everyone out. It made him wonder, what could her mark possibly be? Was she destined to be with a criminal? Who could she be paired with that would make her live this life of secrecy?

Adrien sighed, sitting on his bed.

"So, what's caused you to be so deep in thought? Is it camembert?" Plagg asked.

"No. What kind of person would you have to be soulmates with, to lie to your best friends about your mark?" Adrien asked.

"People have reasons on why they do everything," Plagg said.

"I just wish she would tell me. Maybe I could help her," Adrien said.

"Not likely," Plagg mumbled.

"What did you say, Plagg?" Adrien asked.

"Nothing," he said. "Go to bed Adrien, you'll have a clearer head in the morning."

The next morning, when Adrien arrived at school, he met Nino at the front doors. They saw Marinette and Alya walking through and people staring at them.

"Everyone is staring at Marinette and Alya," Adrien noted.

"Yeah, Captain Obvious."

"Nino!" Adrien laughed.

"It's true. Anyway, word travels fast. Everyone has heard that Marinette didn't get her mark yet. It's incredibly rare. Everyone almost always gets their mark on their birthday. Rumours are that she doesn't have a soulmate," Nino said.

Adrien looked at Marinette. He wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't. Right now, he was Adrien Agreste, not Cat Noir.

They went to class, and dropped the conversation.

At lunch, Adrien went to the bathroom and Plagg flew out. "I just want to talk to her, make sure everything is okay," Adrien said.

"Then go talk to her," Plagg said.

"I can't. I'm Adrien right now," Adrien said.

"Kid, you may be closer to her as Cat Noir, but Adrien is still her friend. Go talk to her," Plagg said.

Adrien sighed. Plagg was right. Adrien was her friend.

After school, Adrien saw Marinette leaving. He ignored any doubts and ran up to her. "Hey, Marinette, are you okay? I heard all these rumours about you not having a mark."

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I don't have my mark yet, but you know, everything happens for a reason," she said.

"Are you sure?" Adrien asked,

"Y-Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow," She said and ran off home, leaving Adrien standing there, unsure what to do.

When Marinette got home, she ran to her room and shut the door. Then she sat down with her back to the door and closed her eyes.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" Tikki asked, concerned for her miraculous holder.

"Adrien asked me if I was okay. I've been lying to everyone and I feel so lonely. I feel like I'm pushing everyone away," Marinette said.

"Well, there is one person you can tell," Tikki said.

"Who?" Marinette asked.

"Your soulmate, Cat Noir," Tikki said.

"I can't, Tikki. Not yet anyway," Marinette said.

Tikki was silent.

"I-I need to clear my head. Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug transformed and went out on patrol, enjoying the quiet and trying to clear her mind. She heard someone land behind her. She knew who it was without even turning around.

"Hello, Cat Noir," she said. She didn't turn around, her voice quiet, tired.

"Good evening, M'Lady," He said in the same voice.

He went next to her and they sat in comfortable silence.

"Cat Noir, have you... received your mark yet?" Ladybug asked.

Cat Noir was silent for a moment. "I have, but I don't know who she is, if I've even met her. I don't have a clue," Cat Noir said.

They sat in silence again.

"What about you? Are you happy with your soulmate?" he asked.

Ladybug sighed. "I know who he is, and yet I don't know him at all. I'm so lost on what to do, that I haven't even told him," she said.

"You should tell him. He's your soulmate, your other half. He was made for you, as you're made for him," Cat Noir said.

"Maybe, but there is this fear I have. He's only seen one side of me, and I'm scared that if he got to know me, he wouldn't accept me for who I am," she said, brow creasing in worry.

Cat Noir smiled.

"Bugaboo, if he didn't accept you, then he is an idiot. You are kind, beautiful, selfless, and the list goes on and on. You are amazing and he is incredibly lucky to have you as his soulmate," he said, smiling at her.

Ladybug stared at Cat Noir. He was her soulmate, and yet she couldn't bear to tell him. This boy loved her so much - and yet she was letting him suffer. She caressed his cheek and pulled him towards her. She stared up at him and gently kissed him. Cat Noir was surprised at first but then relaxed into the kiss.

The kiss was gentle. Both of them were enjoying it, but didn't want to take it too far. Ladybug broke away, smiling gently.

"Thank you Cat Noir," she said.

"No problem," he said, slightly stunned at what had just happened. Ladybug got up, getting ready to leave when she paused.

"You were my first kiss, you know that, Cat Noir? On Valentine's Day, when Dark Cupid was akumatized. To break you from his spell, I had to kiss you. You didn't remember it, but it was my first kiss. We may not be soulmates, but I will always be here to support you," she said, then she swung her yo-yo and disappeared into the night.

When Marinette got home and detransformed, she felt slightly better.

"Feeling better?" Tikki asked.

"Yeah," Marinette said. She started to laugh.

"Marinette, are you okay?" Tikki asked, slightly alarmed.

"Yeah, I'm fine, It's just... I can't believe I kissed him," Marinette said.

There was a knock on the window. Tikki hid, and Marinette went to open the window.

"Hello, Kitty," she said. Cat Noir didn't answer, he just went inside and sat on her bed, seemingly in shock.

"Cat Noir, are you okay?" she asked. He didn't answer.

"Cat? Hello?" She asked waving her hand in front of his face.

Marinette didn't know what to do.

"Cat?" she asked.

"Ladybug..." he said, the strangest expression on his face.

"Ladybug, what about Ladybug?" Marinette asked.

"Ladybug kissed me. She kissed me," Cat Noir said, still in a daze.

"Well, that's good, right?"

"We're not soulmates, but she kissed me and told me we had kissed before," He said.

Marinette couldn't take it anymore. She downstairs to the kitchen, and grabbed a cup of water and a towel. She went back upstairs and poured the water on Cat Noir's head.

"Wh-what? What happened?" Cat Noir asked, spluttering from the ice cold liquid.

"You were in shock. You kept mumbling about Ladybug kissing you," Marinette said, handing him the towel.

"Oh, yeah. Ladybug kissed me even though we're not soulmates. Now I'm confused, I mean, she's not my soulmate, but it felt so... right," Cat Noir said.

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, what is your mark?" Marinette asked.

"Promise not to tell anyone?" Cat Noir asked. She nodded. "It's a pink cursive M," he said.

Marinette was silent. It made sense to her. Pink was her favourite colour and it was referring to her first name.

"So, are you comfortable enough to tell me yours yet? I can protect you if necessary," Cat Noir said.

"No, it's alright. He won't hurt me, I just need to gather enough courage to tell him," Marinette said.

Cat Noir smiled. "Well, I'm sure he will be waiting until you're ready," he said.

"Thanks, Cat," she said.

He was still trying to dry himself.

"Do you want some snacks?" Marinette asked.

"Snacks sound purr-fect," he said.

Marinette went downstairs and came back with some danishes and macarons. For the next half hour, Cat Noir and Marinette laughed and joked while eating the pastries.

"You've met your soulmate, right? What's he like?" Cat Noir asked.

"He's amazing," Marinette said.

"Then what are you so scared of?" Cat Noir asked.

"I don't know," Marinette said. "I don't know," she mumbled again.

"Well Mari, I have to get going, see you soon!" He said, after casting a concerned glance at her.

"Bye Cat Noir!" she said as he left. After he was gone, she continued to stare at the window.

"My soulmate is you," she whispered to herself, watching him disappear.

"My soulmate is you, Cat Noir."

But he didn't hear it.