Chapter 22: Late Night Confessions

Felix lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as the faint glow of moonlight bathed the room in silver. The quiet hum of the city outside was the only sound that accompanied his restless thoughts. Though the mission was over and they were finally safe, his mind was far from calm.

It wasn't the echoes of the fight or the remnants of the mission's danger that kept him awake. It was her.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. How had he let her creep into his thoughts so deeply? Felix prided himself on his control, his ability to keep emotions at bay and focus on the task at hand. But Marinette had a way of undoing him without even trying.

She was brave, resourceful, and infuriatingly stubborn. Her wit was as sharp as her determination, and her laughter-oh, that laughter-had an unsettling ability to disarm him.

But it wasn't just her strength or intelligence that lingered in his mind. It was the quieter moments: the way her face softened when she talked about her dreams, the way she chewed her bottom lip when she was deep in thought, the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn't paying attention.

Felix let out another sigh, staring at the ceiling as if it might hold the answers to his questions.

"Get a grip," he muttered. "You're reading too much into this. She's just being friendly."

But a traitorous part of him whispered otherwise. He replayed the small moments between them, searching for signs-anything to suggest that she might feel the same way. Was it possible?

His logical side argued against it. They were partners. Any kind of romantic entanglement would complicate things, and complications were dangerous in their line of work. But his heart, emboldened by the idea of her, urged him to take the risk.

The battle between his mind and heart waged on, leaving him in turmoil.

A sudden knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Felix froze, his pulse quickening.

"Who could-" he began, but his words were cut off by a soft voice.

"Felix?"

It was Marinette.

He sat up abruptly, his heart hammering in his chest. For a moment, he debated pretending to be asleep, but something in her tone stopped him.

"Come in," he called, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him.

The door creaked open, and Marinette stepped inside, her expression uncertain. Felix's breath caught in his throat.

She looked... different. Her hair, usually tied up in its practical bun, now tumbled down her shoulders in loose waves. She wore a simple silk pajama set, a matching pair with of shorts with a silk camisole. The soft fabric catching the light and making her look effortlessly elegant. Yet there was a vulnerability in her posture that made his chest tighten. Strangely though, Felix felt very relaxed. They were both clearly in a vulnerable state, but about to have a meaningful conversation. Hopefully.

Marinette, on the other hand, was struggling to keep her composure. The moment she saw Felix, her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. He was sitting on the bed, shirtless, his toned chest and defined muscles illuminated by the moonlight. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling her face grow impossibly warm.

"Uh... hi," she stammered, her voice unusually high.

"Hi," Felix replied, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Marinette hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. "I... I just wanted to talk."

Felix arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "About?"

"I-uh-you go first!" Marinette blurted out, gesturing vaguely.

Felix chuckled softly, leaning back against the headboard. "You knocked on my door, Dupain-Cheng. I think that means you go first."

She crossed her arms, determinedly avoiding his gaze. "No, you go first."

"Ladies first"

"Felix!" she huffed, finally looking at him-and immediately regretting it. Her blush deepened as her eyes flickered to his six-pack before she quickly forced them back to his face.

Felix, amused by her flustered state, decided to relent. "Alright, alright. Come here, or we'll be arguing all night."

Marinette hesitated before stepping closer to the bed. Her heart raced as she struggled to form coherent sentences. Why did Felix have to look so relaxed? It wasn't helping her already scattered thoughts.

"I, um..." she started, then stopped, frowning at her inability to articulate her thoughts.

Felix waited patiently, his green eyes steady and focused on her. For all his teasing, he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, which only made it harder for her to find the right words.

"I was wrong," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Felix's expression softened. "About what?"

"About... you," Marinette admitted, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I thought you were just this arrogant, insufferable know-it-all. But you're not. You're... more than that."

Felix tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Go on."

Marinette took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "You're kind. And funny. And... frustratingly charming, sometimes."

Felix's lips twitched into a small smile. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

"It's both," Marinette said, surprising herself with a small laugh. "But mostly, I just wanted to say that... I appreciate you. And I was wondering..." She trailed off, her courage faltering.

"Yes?" Felix prompted, his voice unusually gentle.

"I was wondering if you're free tomorrow night?" she finished in a rush, her cheeks burning.

Felix's eyebrows lifted in surprise, and for a moment, he didn't reply. Then, his lips curved into a sly smile. "Are you asking me out?"

Marinette's face turned an even deeper shade of red. She mumbled something unintelligible, her eyes darting anywhere but at him.

"Sorry, what was that?" Felix asked, leaning forward slightly. "You'll have to come closer. I didn't quite catch it."

Marinette sighed in exasperation, taking another step closer. "I said-"

Before she could finish, Felix leaned forward, cupped Marinette's cheek, and pressed his lips to hers.

The world seemed to still as Marinette froze, her mind struggling to process what was happening. But then, her eyes fluttered shut, and she melted into the kiss, her heart soaring.

When they finally pulled apart, Felix leaned back just enough to meet her gaze. "How's that for an answer?" he murmured, his voice low and warm.

Marinette stared at him for a moment, her lips still tingling. Then, to Felix's surprise, she giggled-a sound so light and carefree that it made his chest tighten.

"I can't believe you just did that," she whispered, her cheeks glowing.

Felix smirked. "I can't believe I didn't do it sooner."

Marinette laughed softly, a sound that was quickly muffled as she leaned in to kiss him again. This time, the kiss was even gentler, a quiet affirmation of everything they had been too afraid to say.

When they finally broke apart, Marinette rested her forehead against his, a shy smile playing on her lips.

"You're impossible," she teased.

"And yet, here you are," Felix replied, his green eyes sparkling with amusement.

Marinette rolled her eyes, but her grin betrayed her. She shifted slightly, her head coming to rest against his shoulder.

For the first time in a long while, everything felt right.

Yayyyyyyy! True love at last! It was meant to be. Btw, sorry for any confusion, but Alya is also employed by Vanguard Operations. Tsm for reading this far!

ILY!-Nattie!