Archive of Our Own

"There's something I need to tell you, Chat," Ladybug was saying. 

Adrien felt nervous. It could be anything, that she wanted to say. 

"I'm not-" Ladybug faltered. "I'm trans," she said finally.

Adrien nodded dumbly, racking his mind for context- which he unfortunately lacked. 

"Do you- do you know what that means?"

Adrien shook his head. "I don't, bugaboo. Sorry."

Ladybug let out a laugh. "You don't need to apologize, Chatton," she said in a reassuring tone. "It means- well, when I was born, the doctor thought I was a boy. Everyone thought I was a boy. Everyone in my civilian life still does, actually."

"I don't follow," Adrien admitted.

"I think-" Ladybug paused. "I think it might be easier for us both if you just google it when you get home," she said eventually. "I care about you, chatton, but I just don't have the energy for this."

Adrien nodded. "That's fair, m'l- wait."

"No, m'lady is right." Ladybug smiled. "Well, kinda. It's right because I like it when you call me that. I'm actually agender- which is something else you can google."

Adrien finished his research, turning to where Plagg was actively ignoring him. 

"Hey, don't you care about this?" Adrien asked.

Plagg just shrugged. "I already know it. Well, maybe not the specific words, but I've been around the cheese block a few times."

"Well, don't you care about learning the modern words for it?" 

"Nope," Plagg admitted. "I don't."

Adrien blinked, thrown off a little. "Huh," he said simply. 

He thought for a moment, pulling up a file he hadn't touched in a long time.

*Who could be Ladybug?* the file asked, as its title.

Adrien had put it together some time ago, after Alya had shown Ladybug's history textbook on the ladyblog. 

Between that and some more circumstantial evidence, Adrien had figured Ladybug had to be in his class. If he could figure that much out, Hawkmoth might be able to as well. 

So, Adrien had wanted to find out if Hawkmoth would be able to find out Ladybug's identity.

*Bourgeois, Chloé* - Antibug ( & Queen Bee )

*Césaire, Alya* - Lady WiFi

*Couffaine, Juleka* - Reflekta

*Haprèle, Mylène* - Horrificator

*Kubdel, Alix* - TimeBreaker

*Lavillant, Rose* - Princess Fragrance

*Raincomprix, Sabrina* - Vanisher

Adrien thought back to when Juleka had been akumatized. After that day, he'd thought Sabrina had to be Ladybug- out of the girls in his class, only Sabrina and Chloé hadn't been akumatized. Chloé, of course, had been seen at the same time as Ladybug during their very first outing against Stoneheart.

Adrien had been extremely confused, actually. Not that Sabrina was Ladybug- he figured, if he was different on each side of the mask, it would make sense that Ladybug could be too.

No, what had confused him was how differently Ladybug and Sabrina treated Chloé. Sabrina worshipped the ground Chloé walked on, but Ladybug despised her. He'd chalked it up, during those few weeks leading up to Vanisher, as a play to keep her identity secret. 

Now, Adrien went back to his list. Hawkmoth might eventually find out that miraculous wielders don't have to have the same gender expression as civilians, so Adrien had to revive the project.

*Bruel, Ivan* - Stoneheart

*Dupain-Cheng, Martin* - Caught by Horrificator. Never akumatized?

*Kanté, Max* - Gamer

*Kurtzberg, Nathaniel* - Evillustrator

*Lahiffe, Nino* - Bubbler

*Kim* - Dark Cupid

Adrien paused. There were a few more people, he realized, than just his class, who fit the bill. Someone around his age, who had reason to be at his school, and reason to be holding a copy of his class' textbook.

Technically, anyone in the school might have reason to have the book - if they'd found it lying around, and were trying to return it.

*Anciel, Marc* - Reverser

*DuParc, Jean* - Magician of Misfortune

*Couffaine, Luka* (could have been at Francois-Dupont for Juleka, had her textbook) - ...

The list, Adrien remembered, was for people Hawkmoth might suspect- not for the real Ladybug.

*Rossi, Lila* - Volpina

*Beauréal, Aurore* - Stormy Weather

*Caquet, Mireille* - ... unknown if Hawkmoth can rule her out.

Adrien realized he didn't know most of Mme. Mendeleiev's class by name, nor whether Hawkmoth could rule any of them out. 

For now, the list of people Hawkmoth might suspect was only 2 people.

Martin Dupain-Cheng- who, while he had been caught by Horrificator and couldn't be Ladybug- Adrien had no idea if Hawkmoth would know that.

And Luka Couffaine, who- 

Adrien shook his head to clear his thoughts. 

Luka, who... was probably Ladybug, come to think of it. 

Adrien couldn't remember seeing him anywhere when his mother had become Captain Hardrock. Had he just missed him? Or had he been busy as Ladybug? Adrien couldn't be sure- he'd only met Luka after his mother had been purified. 

Actually, if Luka really was Ladybug- Adrien probably shouldn't be using he/him pronouns for them. 

And if Luka wasn't Ladybug- which was feeling more and more unlikely- well, they/them wouldn't exactly be wrong. It was, according to Adrien's research, a good substitue when you weren't sure of someone's pronouns.

Frozer, Adrien recalled of the most recent akuma, had been akumatized while he and Luka had been at the ice rink with Nathaniel and Kagami.

...Luka was openly LGBT, having gone on a date with Nathaniel. Another hint Luka might be Ladybug.

The fact Adrien couldn't remember seeing Luka after Frozer had been akumatized- almost like they'd run off to find somewhere to transform, same as Adrien- was yet another such hint.

Adrien tried to remind himself that he was only looking for people Hawkmoth might suspect of being Ladybug. 

That he wasn't actually looking for her- wait. her? them. He wasn't looking for them.

He'd have to ask Ladybug, next he could. 

The more Adrien thought about it, the more he couldn't help but realize he really liked Luka.

Really, really liked them.

They were so kind, and thoughtful. Quiet and serene. Confident and strong. Clever and intuitive.

Yeah, Adrien liked Luka. 

Plagg would never let him hear the end of it, so Adrien kept the thought in his head. 

And, if he was right that Luka was Ladybug- then being Chat Noir was probably his best opportunity. 

After all, the rest of Adrien's time was too heavily monitored- and he was obviously right that Luka was Ladybug. 

"Milady," Adrien said to her one night on patrol- they'd talked about pronouns, and while Ladybug had said she plans to use they/them once she's out as a civilian, she wants the Ladybug persona to use she/her.

Adrien wanted to honour that- and make sure Chat Noir never slipped up on it- by thinking of Ladybug as she/her all the time. Ladybug had agreed. 

"I want to tell you something," Adrien finished. 

"You can tell me anything, Chat," she replied softly. 

Adrien couldn't help but smile. Her kindness, her gentleness- it was so familiar to him. Luka was kind. They were gentle. They were safe. Just like Ladybug.

"I did some research," he said finally. "I realized I needed to figure myself out." 

Ladybug smirked. "Still like me, and needed to figure out what that meant?"

Adrien paused. He was so sure he was right- which meant, technically, Ladybug was right. But he had to remember there was a chance he was wrong. 

"Not quite," he said cautiously. "I mean, when you came out it didn't change anything. I'd managed to move on before that- and you're still one of my closest friends."

Ladybug didn't say anything to that, merely nodding appreciatively. 

"I fell for someone new," Adrien admitted, leaving out the part that he suspected it wasn't someone new after all. "And I realized I couldn't be straight, if I liked them."

Adrien paused, looking for Ladybug to say something- anything. But, she just smiled kindly and nodded, listening. She was being so respectful, letting him finish. 

"I found a label that fits really well," he said after a moment. "Demisexual."

Ladybug nodded knowingly. "I'm familiar with the term," she said simply. "I'm glad you found one that fits, and thankful that you trusted me to know it."

Adrien smiled. "Thanks for being cool, bugaboo."

"What's wrong?" Ladybug asked- she could read him like a book, Adrien realized. They were so in sync, that even when he didn't realize he was sad, she could tell.

"I-" Adrien paused, a lump forming in his throat. He hadn't let himself think this, not fully. "I don't know if I can be with the person I fell for," he choked out. "I have to keep this secret from them, that I'm Chat Noir. It wouldn't be fair."

Ladybug frowned, a puzzled sort of frown. Adrien could see she was trying to solve a problem- she had the same hints of determination and deep thought as when she called on Lucky Charm. He'd just never seen that combined with a frown.

Adrien looked away from Ladybug, not wanting to make her feel self-conscious, and instead turned his head to watch the skyline of Paris. The sun was below the horizon, but the sky still light- a beautiful array of colours marking the sunset. 

"What if-" Ladybug started to say, pulling Adrien's attention back. "What if you told them?"

"What?"

Ladybug paused briefly. "You know this person well," she said finally. "You said you're demisexual, so you know them. If you fell for them, surely you trust them."

Adrien nodded. He trusted Luka with anything- but, wasn't it against the rules?

"If you keep yourself from being with someone, break your own heart- you won't be able to focus on the job. On beating Hawkmoth. Worse yet, you might open yourself up to an akuma."

"I guess," Adrien said quietly. "But-" he trailed off.

"But what?" Ladybug asked sincerely.

"What if it gets out?"

"Will it? Would they spill your secret?"

"No, of course not-"

"Then it won't get out, as long as you keep being careful," Ladybug explained. "Both of you."

Adrien considered that for a moment. "But the rules-"

Ladybug snorted. "Rules, yeah. If the rules get Chat Noir akumatized- and they will, if you break your own heart to follow them- then they deserve to be thrown out."

Adrien blinked. "What if we slip up? What if telling them, leads to someone finding out?"

"What if you slip up all by yourself?" Ladybug countered. "What if I slip up all by myself? Kitty, you deserve happiness. I'd never forgive myself if I let you talk yourself into breaking your own heart."

"But it wouldn't be your fault."

Ladybug sighed, putting a hand on Adrien's shoulder. "It doesn't need to be anyone's fault," she said quietly. "It doesn't need to happen. Talk to your kwami for me, okay?"

Adrien relented, letting his posture relax. He knew what Plagg would say- Plagg didn't have any respect for any kind of rule. Adrien wouldn't even have to try. 

But Ladybug- if she thought this was the best thing to do, which she clearly did, then it had to be okay. 

Ladybug was too smart, too careful, to give Adrien this advice without being certain of it. Luka was clever and cautious, too- not that Adrien was comparing them to Ladybug. He just- it was relevant. Cleverness and cautiousness were about Luka being able to keep Chat Noir's identity a secret.

Yeah, that was it. Not a comparison at all.

"Tell me about him," Ladybug said, interupting Adrien's thoughts.

"Them," Adrien corrected automatically. He didn't know that for sure about Luka, but- he knew it about Ladybug. And he kept getting more and more sure of his theory. 

"Sorry," Ladybug said quickly. "I guess I assumed, by accident. Thanks for correcting me."

Adrien smiled- because of course Ladybug would thank him for that. Just like Luka would. "They're the best," he said genuinely. "They're kind, and thoughtful. Creative. I-" Adrien choked on the words, realizing they were true. "I love them."

He turned to his partner. "I love them, Ladybug. And I have no idea how to tell them."

Adrien didn't miss when Ladybug's mouth dropped, ever so slightly, open. "You- wow," she said. "You were never that nervous with me."

"You and I were always going to be okay," he said softly. "I knew we could make it through, as partners and friends, no matter what."

"What's different?" 

Adrien considered that, briefly. What was different? Especially if he was right- then hardly anything was different. 

"I think," he said finally. "I think, I feel even more strongly for them than I did for you." Adrien turned his head away, feeling self-concious.

"Even if they don't feel the same," Ladybug asked gently, "what's the worst that happens?"

"They wouldn't be any less kind, or considerate. They wouldn't want to see me any differently- but they might." Adrien took a breath, steadying himself. "I don't want to lose them as a friend, bugaboo. And I'm worried I might."

"Look at me, Chatton," Ladybug urged- and Adrien obliged. "You won't. Things might get awkward for a while, you might need space from each other for a while, but you won't lose them completely."

Adrien blinked. He realized why Ladybug had told him to look at her- she had confidence written all over her face. She knew that for a fact. "How do you know?" he breathed.

"Because I know you," she answered. "Anyone who can call you a friend is a very lucky person. You wouldn't make it awkward, you would do your best to move on, and things would be able to get back to where they are now."

"Would? That's conditional," Adrien observed. 

Ladybug smirked. "Because there's still the very real chance they return your feelings, and you end up together."

Adrien had forgotten that. How good the best-case scenario could be. Ladybug was a very wise person, and very insightful. 

Just like- 

Adrien didn't want to let himself compare them. He didn't want to think it was possible that his feelings for Luka, were just his feelings for Ladybug. 

Adrien had moved on from Ladybug. 

He had moved on.

His feelings for Luka were new. Different to his feelings for Ladybug.

"I think-" Adrien's breath hitched, cutting him off. "I think I want to tell them who I am, first. Before I tell them how I feel."

Ladybug just nodded. "I trust you, Chat. Do it in whatever order you want."

Adrien smiled.

Adrien figured that telling Luka his identity would go one of two ways. 

Either Luka was Ladybug, and they'd reveal their identity in turn, or Luka wasn't Ladybug. In which case, Luka would be... well, they'd be Luka. Kind and caring, and still the person Adrien loved. 

But he needed to take some time to think things out- specifically, how to tell Luka his identity. 

Should he approach as Adrien, or as Chat? 

It made more sense to approach as Adrien, since Luka didn't know Chat Noir (as far as he knew). 

But it would be more difficult- Adrien didn't get much time unsupervised.

Plagg, of course, had been of no help whatsoever. He'd said something Adrien hadn't understood- "One of Sass's? Really?" - before offering some vaguely supportive platitudes and demanding cheese.

Adrien sighed, hopping down from the rooftop. He'd gone out as Chat Noir to get some air and clear his head, and had found himself near the Liberty. A subconscious choice that Adrien decided was best he took as a sign.

Detransforming in an alley, Adrien steadied himself to deal with Plagg.

To his surprise, Plagg said nothing- zipping directly into Adrien's pocket without the usual demand for cheese.

With a shrug, Adrien crossed the street and approached the Liberty. 

It was getting a little late, but Luka was still abovedeck. They were tidying away various odds and ends from a recent Kitty Section rehearsal, Adrien realized. 

"Permission to come aboard?" He called out.

Luka span, eyes instantly locking onto Adrien's and a surprised expression flashing ever so briefly across their face. "Permission conditionally granted," Luka called back. "The condition is that you help out, if you’re up to it- there's not much left, I promise."

Adrien chuckled. "Deal," he said as he climbed aboard the Liberty. Not wanting to dive right into the reason for his visit, Adrien instead dove into helping.

If Luka was curious, they didn't let it show. The two made short work of stowing the last pieces of equipment, and sat on the deck together to watch the sky. 

It was mid-afternoon, and semi-cloudy. The kind of weather that feels like clear skies and sunny, but with enough clouds around to watch them go by.

After several minutes, Adrien spoke. "Don't you want to know why I'm here?" he asked, feeling slightly irritated that Luka didn't care, but trying not to let it show.

He felt Luka shrug beside him. "I figured if you wanted to share, you would," they explained. "We work pretty hard to make the Liberty a safe place to be. That means a lot of things, and one of them is letting people show up without prying into why."

Adrien blinked. "That's- really thoughtful," he realized. "Sorry for thinking you didn't care."

Luka chuckled. "Yeah, I know it can come across that way when people don't know. If you hadn't said anything before you left, I would've explained why I hadn't asked."

Adrien nodded thoughtfully.

"So why are you here?" Luka asked. "I mean, you don't have to answer. But you seemed to want me to ask."

Adrien smiled. "I want to tell you something about me. Something huge, that I haven't told anyone else." Adrien stopped, debating if he was ready. 

After a few beats, Luka spoke up. "Can I ask- if you're comfortable answering-" as they paused, Adrien stopped breathing. He wasn't sure he was ready to be asked what his secret was. "-why me?" Luka asked. "Why did you want me to be the first to know?"

Adrien let out his breath, steadying himself as he considered the answer. "I had to tell someone," he said honestly. "I think I would've burst otherwise. There was someone else I thought about-" Ladybug- "but they aren't ready to know. After them, you're the person I trust most with this secret."

Even if it wasn't the whole truth, it was definitely all true. 

"I'm honoured," Luka said softly. "Thank you so much for having that trust in me- even if you change your mind tonight, the fact that you considered telling me is- it's huge."

It took several beats for Adrien to process that. It was like Luka could tell how important the secret was to Adrien- Luka was intuitive like that. Thoughtful like that. Humble like that. 

Adrien took a minute to enjoy the silence, and the company, that he had with Luka. 

Eventually, he shifted in his seat and started to stand up. 

When he looked to Luka, they were smiling. "Heading out?" they asked, no sign at all of curiosity. 

"No," Adrien shook his head. "I decided instead of telling you, it might be easier to show you."

Luka tilted their head ever so slightly, a curious expression starting to form. 

Adrien looked around the deck. "Could we go somewhere more private?" he asked, not wanting to transform where any Parisian glancing at the Seine could see. 

"Away from eyes, ears, or both?" Luka asked simply. "Noone's going to see us in the living room, but my mom might hear us. Juleka's in our shared room, but she'll have her headphones on- seen but not heard. If we need both, we'll have to find somewhere off the ship."

"I-" Adrien stopped. Luka was taking so much in stride. They were so easy to talk to- Adrien knew, 100%, that if he changed his mind about telling Luka, he'd never hear Luka ask, ever, what the secret had been. "Both is safer," Adrien finally answered.

"Got a place in mind?" Luka asked. "I should text Juleka that I'm going somewhere."

"Can- can you just tell her you're with me?" Adrien asked, feeling uncertain. 

"Done," Luka said, looking up from their phone and pocketing it. "So, got a place in mind? Or should I lead the way?"

Adrien smiled. "I have a place in mind," he said conspiratorially. 

Luka nodded, following quietly as Adrien walked down the gangplank. Once they were off the boat, and there was space to walk side by side, Adrien slowed his pace and turned- reaching out a hand to Luka.

Luka took the hand with a smile, and Adrien led the way to the same alley he'd transformed in 15 minutes prior. 

To their credit, Luka didn't look the least bit phased to be led into a dark alleyway. They just watched Adrien kindly, a soft and reassuring smile on their face. 

Adrien took a breath, and reached into Plagg's pocket- the pocket on the inside of Adrien's overshirt where Plagg always hid, not a pocket Plagg was wearing. 

"What do you want, kitten?" Plagg asked, sounding annoyed. "I was sleeping." Plagg floated out into the open, ignoring his surroundings and looking at Adrien. "Is it an akuma, or do I get to yell at you for waking me up?"

Adrien didn't answer, his eyes still on Luka.

Luka, for their part, was watching curiously- Adrien could see the confusion, even as Luka was minimizing how obvious it was on their face. 

"Luka, this is Plagg. My kwami."

Plagg spun, looking to Luka. "Hiya, kid. Like the kitten said, I'm Plagg. God of death. Nice to meet you."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Not a god, not of death-" he paused. "I think. Plagg is a kwami, and he embodies the concept of destruction."

"Death is a type of destruction," Plagg argued. Adrien watched Luka's expression carefully- Luka was nodding along, visibly curious but not interrupting. "And lots of cultures have worshipped me as a god," Plagg added.

"Anyway," Adrien cut off, wanting to get to the point. "Kwami are the creatures that give a miraculous its power."

"Miraculous," Luka muttered quietly, eyes locked on Plagg. Looking to Adrien, they added, "Destruction. Chat Noir?"

Adrien nodded. "Plagg," he said, "Claws out."

Adrien tried to resist the urge to do his transformation routine- but it was so well-practiced, so ingrained in him, that he just had to.

Besides, he was sure Luka would be amused. 

He was right. Luka was smirking. 

"Want a tour of the rooftops?" Adrien asked, holding out a hand. 

Luka shook their head. "I mean, I do," they clarified. "But Chat Noir probably shouldn't be seen with a random civilian on a random Tuesday afternoon."

Adrien frowned. "You're right," he admitted. "I guess I got excited to share this with you- I've never been able to share it before."

"What about Ladybug?" Luka asked, reminding Adrien of his theory.

"What about her?" Adrien asked, feeling suspicious but trying to hide it.

"She knows you as Chat Noir. She gets to hang out with you on rooftops."

Adrien sighed, filing his theory away. With no sign of Tikki, and with Luka not revealing themselves as Ladybug- it was probably wrong. 

Which meant Adrien could stop using they/them for Luka, and go back to he/him. 

"It's not the same thing," Adrien explained. "She and I both got to experience this together, learn the ropes together. I've never had the chance to give a tour, so to speak, of this side of my life."

Luka smiled kindly. "Well, I'm happy to hear all about it. But I should probably hold off on the physical tour, so we don't risk any photos getting leaked."

Adrien nodded, disappointed but understanding. "I'll talk to Ladybug," he decided. "I really want to share everything with you, and she might have some ideas on how to do it safely."

They stood in silence for what felt like no time at all, but also like an eternity. 

Eventually, Luka spoke. "Do you want to transform back, and come back to the Liberty? Or..."

Adrien smiled. "I'd love to. Plagg, claws in."

"You owe me cheese. Lots of it."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "There's plenty back home," he insisted. "You can have some later."

"Not you," Plagg corrected. "You," he said, pointing to Luka, "are the reason he transformed. Which means you're the one who owes me cheese. Camembert, preferably."

Luka looked to Adrien, the obvious question plain as day on Luka's face.

"It takes energy out of him to transform me. Cheese is how he refuels- and he's obsessed with the expensive stuff."

"We... might have some cheddar?" Luka offered hesitantly. 

"It's okay, Luka," Adrien insisted. "I'll feed him when we get home- he's impatient, not starving."

"Says you!" 

"Shush," Adrien admonished. "Also, hide. We need to cross back to the Liberty."

Luka considred Adrien one of his closest friends. 

They didn't spend a huge amount of time together, sure, but that was because of Adrien's busy schedule.

Adrien made time for Luka, usually shared with the rest of Kitty Section- but Luka didn't mind sharing.

Adrien's company always brightened Luka's mood, no matter the context- even if they didn't speak a word to each other, having Adrien around was enough. 

Luka knew what that meant. 

He'd known it since he first met Adrien, and all he could think about for the rest of the night was how much Adrien needed kindness- needed love. 

Adrien's heartsong was a lonely one. 

And in giving Adrien that kindness, that friendship, Luka got to know every single note of the most beautiful heartsong he'd ever heard. He fell, hard. 

But, Adrien was straight. All the attractive boys were either straight or taken, in Luka's experience. For that matter, everyone Luka found attractive was either not attracted to boys, or taken. Not strictly true, 100%- but close enough to it. 

Luka knew how to keep his feelings from getting in the way of caring for people. 

He practiced it religiously when it came to Adrien, knowing how much the boy needed wholesome kindness. He set them aside when Adrien was around, to support his friend- even if the healthiest way for Luka to move on was to take a break from Adrien's company. 

Luka wasn't sure how Adrien would cope with being cut off from a friend for 2 weeks. 

When Adrien told Luka he had something to tell him, Luka worked hard not to let his heart race. To keep a kind, gentle, friendship as his driving force, instead of the love he'd been trying to smother. 

Once Adrien said it- that he was Chat Noir- all Luka could think was that it was more important than ever to look after Adrien's emotional wellbeing. 

Not only did Adrien need it- all of Paris depended on him, so all of Paris needed it. 

And when Adrien transformed in front of Luka, he heard a new heartsong. It was subtly different to Adrien's usual- it would have to have been, Luka realized, to keep people like himself from recognizing Adrien as Chat. 

But it was so similar in ways Luka wasn't sure he'd notice if he didn't know . It sounded almost like a remix of a reprise of the original- more texture, more character.

When they went back to the Liberty, Luka was on full-alert.

He knew it would be hard to keep priorities straight- Luka frowned at the pun in his thoughts- with Adrien around.

Luka was determined to make it work.

Adrien had needed to tell someone, to have someone he could turn to and talk with about being Chat Noir. 

Luka was mildly surprised to hear Chat Noir had moved on from Ladybug- there had been no less flirting, from what the public had seen of them.

"Ladybug actually likes the banter, apparently," Adrien admitted. They were sitting on Luka's bed, whispering their conversation. 

They probably didn't need to whisper, Luka knew, since the only people in earshot were either wearing noise-cancelling headphones, or alternating between pretending to be asleep, or refusing to participate in the conversation on the grounds Juleka might remove her headset.

She wouldn't, not without warning- Luka had shot her a look on the way in to tell her as much. Others would call it twin telepathy. Luka would call it a threat. 

"But only when we have an audience," Adrien finished. "I kinda agree- it's nice to have someone to bounce off in a familiar way, when we're dealing with akumas or the press."

"What about patrol?" Luka asked. Everyone knew Ladybug and Chat Noir occasionally patrolled Paris, and Luka was fairly certain that everyone knew it was just so they could hang out together. The public didn't think they had a schedule, but Adrien had confirmed they did- and that they rolled a dice to decide if they'd let someone spot them on a given night.

Adrien smiled his beautiful smile. "We've actually gotten a lot closer as friends, and teammates. Sharing more about ourselves."

Luka smiled back. Adrien was happy- and that made him happy. "Relaxing the identity rule a little?" Luka asked, curious. 

Adrien shrugged. "Sorta. I don't think we're going to tell each other outright, not anytime soon. But- Carapace and Rena Rouge know each other's identities, and it's working well for them. So we're letting ourselves be a little less careful when it's just the two of us."

"Really?" Luka was a little surprised. "So you're the only hero who doesn't know either of their identities."

"Queen Bee doesn't know," Adrien pointed out. 

Luka frowned. "She's not going to be Queen Bee again, is she?"

Adrien frowned back. "Why wouldn't she?"

"You and Ladybug need to sit down- with Chloé- and talk about it. Hawkmoth used her family against her, so it's not safe for him to know she's an active superhero."

"But- it's been so good for her!"

Luka pulled Adrien in for a hug- belatedly realizing he should've asked. "Sorry-" Luka practically jumped back- "I forgot to ask if you're okay with hugs."

Adrien let out a short chuckle, but his expression remained serious- still wanting to defend his childhood friend. "No, it's fine- as long as you telegraph it like that so I can stop you, you don't have to ask."

Luka nodded, going back into the hug. "I know you care about her, Adrien. I agree it's been good for her." 

Luka pulled back from the hug- more slowly this time- to make eye contact. "I didn't say she needs to stop. I said it's not safe for Hawkmoth to know. Maybe the three of you can think of a way for her to stay on the team without Hawkmoth realizing it."

Adrien didn't stop thinking about Luka's suggestion until an entire day later- when he and Ladybug were due to patrol.

"So, kitty, how'd it go?" 

Adrien furrowed his brow, not sure what Ladybug was referring to. 

"Right," she said. "So, Tikki sometimes goes off to find Plagg and make sure he's keeping out of trouble. Apparently, Plagg told her you came out to your crush?"

"I didn't come out," Adrien corrected. "They don't know I'm demisexual. But I did tell them I'm Chat Noir."

Adrien had decided to keep up the they/them pronouns when talking to Ladybug about Luka. One less hint to Adrien's identity would be a good thing, up until they were ready to just come clean to each other.

Though, Adrien knew Tikki was too responsible to get more than a few feet away from Ladybug. 

And he'd been keeping too close an eye on Plagg for him to have gotten more than a few feet away from Adrien.

And, everyone Adrien spent any amount of time that close to had been ruled out as Ladybug.

All of them very conclusively, apart from one- he'd ruled out Luka on the assumption that if he told Ladybug his identity, she'd reveal hers in turn.

That was an assumption. None of the others were.

Was Ladybug Luka after all?

"That's kinda what I meant," Ladybug said sheepishly. "Poor wording, I guess. How'd it go, though?"

Adrien smiled. "It went really well. You were right- they're really careful with my identity. To the point where they wouldn't let me show off and take them around Paris' rooftops, in case anyone saw us."

Ladybug chuckled. "I had a feeling your crush might be able to think things through a bit more than you could," she said teasingly. "You were a little distracted, weren't you?"

"Yeah," Adrien admitted. "Very distracted."

"Any plans on when you're going to tell them how you feel?"

Oh! If Ladybug was Luka, then maybe they were waiting for Adrien to tell them everything as Luka, before they told him.

...or, Adrien reminded himself, Ladybug isn't Luka. It isn't fair to Luka if Adrien's feelings for them are accidentally just his feelings for Ladybug. 

"I'm... still working on that," Adrien said slowly. He had some plans, but on the off chance this was Luka- well, even if Luka already knew, Adrien still wanted them to be a surprise. 

"Would it have anything to do with the fact that Nadja Chamack has an interview with you next week?" Ladybug asked knowingly. 

Adrien blinked. "That's not public information," he said blankly. 

"No," Ladybug agreed. "It's not. But I have sources."

Sources like Adrien himself, maybe- he'd told Luka once it was scheduled. He told Luka everything, these days. 

"The interview is for Chat Noir to come out."

"Do you want me there?" Ladybug asked. "For support? Or do you want to do it alone?"

Adrien thought about that. He hadn't wanted the media to be distracted by Ladybug's presence, or to overshadow his own statement with Ladybug's reaction to it. 

"Yes," he decided. "Just not on the cameras. Whether you're in costume or not, whether I see you or not- I'd feel better knowing you're there, somewhere."

Ladybug smirked. "It won't be in costume," she said, an amused tone in her voice, "but I was already planning to be there."

...so was Luka, Adrien remembered. Luka had offered, as moral support, saying they could arrange to be there. 

Martin walked into the TV Station, feeling a little overwhelmed. 

They'd babysat for Nadja before, but always in their own home. 

Martin was doing this for Nadja as a special favour- it was her day off, and she was coming in just to interview Chat Noir.

In fact, Nadja had almost declined the interview- she'd gotten the call from Chat Noir while picking up Manon, so Martin had overheard it was happening. Martin had suggested that Manon would love an opportunity to see Chat Noir in person, and that Martin could keep an eye on her while they watched the interview.

They hadn't made the offer entirely for Manon- as much as they knew Manon would love it. 

They'd made the offer for Chat Noir. 

Their partner clearly wanted to tell the world something, and if Martin could help that happen how and when Chat wanted it to, Martin would. 

Martin finally got their turn to speak with the receptionist. 

"I'm here to see Ms. Chamack. Is she in yet?"

"One moment," the receptionist replied warmly, dialing an extension on her phone. "Yes, I have a visitor for Ms. Chamack. A Mr..."

Martin winced internally as the receptionist looked to them expectantly. "Dupain-Cheng," they supplied.

It hurt every time, but Martin had yet to come out to anyone. They weren't ready to, until they'd settled on a new name- as much as Martin didn't fit, any more than he/him pronouns fit, they hadn't settled on an alternative.

"Fifth floor," the receptionist supplied, gesturing to the elevator bank. "Ms. Chamack said she'll meet you at the elevator."

Martin nodded. They turned to walk to the elevators, and was surprised to see Luka was in line for the receptionist- a few places behind where Martin had been.

Luka hadn't seen them, and Martin had a child to watch, so they went directly to the elevators. They could catch up with Luka another time, and mention that they'd seen him.

"Hi," Luka greeted the receptionist. "I have an appointment with..." Luka paused, checking his phone for the name- "a Ms. Penny Rolling."

The receptionist nodded, pulling something up on her computer. Once she found it, she shot Luka a smile and dialed an extension.

"Hi, Ms. Rolling. I have someone here for an appointment with you, but your schedule shows it's your day off."

"I see. Well, my apologies for holding him up. I'll send him to your office right away."

Luka cringed inwardly at the pronouns- they weren't wrong, but he always felt uncomfortable when someone assumed. 

The receptionist lowered the phone, and looked at Luka with what he could've sworn was a suspicious expression, before ever-so-subtly shrugging.

"Your aunt ," the receptionist intoned, "Ms Rolling, asked me to send you up to her office. Sixth floor, room 647." She brought the phone back to her ear. "He's on his way up, Ms. Rolling."

Luka blinked. He didn't have an aunt, as far as he knew, but he'd been put in touch with Ms. Rolling by his mom after asking if she could help him sneak into the TV station.

Regardless, he started moving towards the elevators. The sooner he met Ms. Rolling, the sooner he could ask- so there was no use wondering.

As Luka got to the elevator bank, he recognized one of his sister's classmates. "Hey," he called in greeting. "Sorry- I recognize you as one of Juleka's friends, but I can't remember your name. You probably know I'm Luka- he/him."

Luka watched curiously, maintaining his warm expression, as the person in front of him slowly blinked. "I, uh- well, I'm kinda figuring myself out. Not sure what my name is going to be, but Juleka would know me as Martin."

"Nice to meet you," Luka said sincerely. "Can I ask your pronouns?"

Martin hesitated, and Luka waited patiently. "They/them," they answered.

The elevator arrived, and they boarded together. Martin pushed the button for the fifth floor.

Just as Luka was about to ask them to push the button for six, his phone chimed. He quickly glanced at it- a text.

*[Unknown Number]: Luka, sorry I pretended to be your aunt- I had to tell the receptionist something. Anarka tells me you need onto the set of Nadja's show- that'll be the fifth floor, not the sixth. Room 503. - Penny*

Luka smiled as he put his phone away, noticing that Martin was looking at him curiously. Martin was also still holding a hand towards the elevator controls. "Ah- small world, I'm going to 5 too."

"So what brings you here?" Martin asked. 

It was a good quesiton, to which Luka had a relatively honest answer. "I heard Nadja is interviewing Chat Noir," Luka said truthfully. "After Prime Queen, I'm a little concerned. I wanted to be there, just in case."

Martin blinked at Luka. "You're breaking into a TV station to defend a superhero?"

Luka blinked back. "No?" he asked- the question being why Martin thought that. "I'm not worried about Chat Noir-" as much as Chat had requested his company, he wasn’t concerned- "I'm concerned about Nadja- in case she gets caught between her executives and a superhero. Again." 

Not that it had been the superhero's faults the first time; they were right to keep details about themselves private. And to ask Nadja not to press them on being a couple.

Nor had it been the executives' fault, really- they were used to being hard on their hosts, and whether that was wrong or not, it didn't usually result in a terrorist attack.

No, the attack of Prime Queen- as with every akuma with little exception- was Hawkmoth's fault. 

"Huh," was all Martin said. "How'd you get past reception?"

"Someone who works here owed my mom a favour, and pretended I'm their nephew. Anyway, what brings you in?"

Martin gave Luka a curious look, but let it go. "I'm here to watch Nadja's kid during the interview," they answered. "They're family friends."

Luka took in the information. "Since-" he paused. "Since they know you," he pressed on, "do you want me using a different set of pronouns around them? Or stick to they/them?"

Martin froze in place. Luka figured they must not have much experience with the whole queer thing, and gave them time to process. 

Before Luka got an answer, the elevator dinged- having arrived at the fifth floor. Martin leaned over as the doors opened, and whispered to Luka. "He/him. Thanks."

Adrien was standing in the alley outside the TV station, by the celebrity entrance.

It was a familiar spot to him, having been there for interviews and commercial shoots several times before. 

This was the second time he was there in costume, the previous being shortly before the debut of Prime Queen.

The security guard at the door was just staring at him, expressionless. When Chat Noir had landed in the alleyway, they'd made a quick call on a walkie-talkie. 

Adrien was used to the routine- though normally would be waiting in a car for this portion. 

The call had been to inform those inside the studio that the guest had arrived, and security inside the building was doing a final sweep to make sure everything was clear.

A call came on the walkie, which Chat Noir's hearing picked up when Adrien's couldn't.

"Coast is clear," the voice said over the crackly connection, "but I don't know why we bothered with a sweep for a superhero."

Adrien smirked as the guard opened the door for him, confidently strolling in. 

When he got to Nadja's set, Adrien couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Nadja," he said kindly, scanning the room- to see Manon, and Martin. "I wasn't expecting Manon to be here."

"I- right," Nadja started. "I forgot you'd met, when she was... well." Adrien briefly panicked, realizing that if it hadn't been for Puppeteer, his identity would have some major holes in it.

"Sorry to remind you," Adrien said earnestly. "I'm glad you were able to find someone to watch her- I only found out yesterday that the day I'd suggested was your day off."

Nadja gave him a smile. "It's not an issue, Chat Noir. I was actually with my babysitter when I got your call, and he offered then and there to watch her."

Adrien smiled back. He'd known that- he'd found out it would have been Nadja's day off at school, when Martin mentioned he'd be away to watch Manon. For his part, Adrien had claimed he'd be at a photoshoot- it wasn't much of a lie, as he had one scheduled not long after the interview.

"I've actually met Martin once or twice," he admitted, "A few of his classmates have been akumas," he added as a way of explanation. "Anyway, he's great with kids. I'm glad he was available." Adrien had, of course, seen Martin with Alya's sisters, as well as Nino's brother. It was true- Martin was great with them.

"We have a few minutes before we can start," Nadja said. Adrien took a moment to process the total non-sequitur. "Would you mind taking a moment to speak with Manon? She's been looking forward to this."

Ah- not as much of a non-sequitur as Adrien had thought. 

Taking a moment to clamp down his Chat Noir persona, Adrien walked over. "Well hello, Purr-incess," he cooed, getting not just Manon's attention, but Martin's as well. "It's wonderful to see you again."

Manon giggled. "You're silly!" she accused. "I'm not a princess!" 

Adrien gasped in mock surprise. "You're not?" he asked. "Well, I guess that must make Martin here the princess." Adrien shot Martin a glance, giving him a wink.

Manon whirled towards Martin. "Is it true?" she squeaked. "Are you a princess?" 

Martin chuckled. "I suppose I am, if Chat Noir said it. He is a superhero, after all." 

Adrien smiled. "Well," he corrected. "Martin is certainly royalty. But only Martin can decide if he's a prince, a princess, or something else entirely." 

Sure, they were having fun, but there was no harm in sneaking in the lesson to let someone else choose their own identity, instead of forcing one onto them.

And if Adrien took satisfaction in the grateful smile Martin threw his way, that was a bonus. 

"What are you?" Manon asked, focused on Martin with a confused look. "Why doesn't Chat Noir know?"

"I'm okay with princess," Martin answered. "And Chat wanted to make sure I got to choose- everyone should get to choose."

Adrien nodded. "What about you, Manon? If we're playing pretend, and Martin is a princess, what do you want to be?"

Manon thought for a moment, and Adrien exchanged an amused look with Martin. "A unicorn!" Manon suddenly shouted. 

Adrien laughed. "Great choice!" he announced. He glanced to Nadja, who was watching with a smile- and gesturing to her watch. "Manon," Adrien continued, "I need to give you a choice. Your mom and I need to sit and record an interview- you can choose to stay in this room and listen quietly, if you'd like. Or, you can choose to go with Martin to somewhere you can play."

When Manon didn't answer right away, Martin cut in. "You can always change your mind. It's not live-" he glanced to Nadja, presumably for confirmation- "so we don't need to worry about opening the door."

"Listen," Manon answered finally.

Martin gave Adrien a smile- or, Adrien realized, gave it to Chat Noir. That was who he was being, in this moment. 

"Nadja," Martin asked, "I have a friend nearby- we ran into each other in the lobby; turns out he was here to meet his aunt. He was wondering if it would be okay to come in and watch- and help me with Manon."

"I'm okay with that," Nadja answered, "as long as my guest is."

When everyone looked to Adrien, he realized who the friend had to be. "Tell Luka I'd be honoured," he said with a wink.

Martin narrowed his eyes, Manon gasped, and Nadja maintained her neutral expression. 

Adrien smirked.

Luka was just outside the recording space, sitting on a chair in the hallway and killing time on his phone.

Despite telling Martin he would be posting up further away, Luka was as close as he could get. He hoped Adrien knew as much.

Well- he'd thought he was as close as he could get, until his phone chimed.

*Juleka: Martin asked me to pass on a text.*

*Juleka: He said you could be in the room.*

Huh.

*Luka: Thanks for passing the message.*

Luka walked up to the door, feeling mildly uncertain, and opened it. 

"Hi," Nadja said as he entered. "Thanks for coming to help Martin with Manon." 

Luka just nodded dumbly, looking to his acquaintance. They were sitting in a corner of the recording space, on a blanket, with a young child. 

There were a couple of fidgets laid out, and Luka could see Martin's backpack had several more toys in it. 

"Hey," Luka called as he walked over, trying to keep his cool. "Nice setup."

"Hi," a familiar voice said over Luka's shoulder. 

Luka suppressed the urge to look- he was worried he'd give something away about how close they were, or Adrien's identity, or something.

"Hi, Chat Noir," Luka responded neutrally, keeping his back to Adrien.

Martin gave Luka a puzzled look. Luka just sat down, facing Manon- which, by no coincidence at all, kept his back to the set. 

Martin watched curiously as Luka introduced himself to Manon, and completely ignored the superhero in the room.

What had Luka said earlier? Something about not being here for Chat- but in case Chat upset Nadja.

Did Luka have something against Chat?

Martin shot Chat an apologetic look, and gave a subtle shrug, before turning his attention back to Manon- and Luka.

He wasn't worried about paying attention to the interview, since he knew he'd see it by the end of the day- the rest of Paris (and apparently Luka, despite his presence) would have to wait almost a week.

Adrien wasn't sure what to read into Luka's ignoring of him.

He wanted to let it drop, tell himself they could talk about it later. 

But he wanted to see Luka's reaction to what he had come here to say. 

Conflicted, Adrien plastered on a neutral smile and jonied Nadja on the couches for the interview. 

Nadja raised an eyebrow, and Adrien gave a subtle shake of his head. 

Nadja was a professional- even more so after Prime Queen. 

She'd spoken with Ladybug and Chat Noir privately, to apologize for letting the executives push her. She'd made a promise to drop anything they told her to drop.

When she'd raised her eyebrow, Adrien knew she wanted to ask about Luka. Even if Adrien could BS a reason for Luka to be upset with Chat Noir, he really didn't want to.

So, he gave the shake of his head to tell her to back off. 

Adrien knew Nadja would do as he asked, even if the request wasn't out loud.

Nadja's phone chimed, and she barely glanced at it. "The camera op got stuck in traffic," she explained as she looked up. "Unless we get a replacement from another department, that's a 30 minute delay."

"I don't have that long," Adrien added.

Everyone in the room (other than Manon), for various reasons, knew the full details of how the interview had been arranged. What kept everyone from being on the same page, not known in full to anyone in the room, was the fact that noone actually knew how much anyone else knew. 

Noone but Luka knew how familiar Chat Noir really was with the TV Station.

Noone but Chat Noir knew that Luka knew anything.

Everyone knew that Martin had about half of the details, after overhearing Nadja's phone call with Chat Noir.

But noone knew that Chat Noir knew that.

And noone but Martin knew that Chat had told Ladybug every last detail- even the reason for the interview.

Adrien had called the TV Station, from Chat's baton, and asked to speak to Nadja. They forwarded his call to her cell, since she'd left for the day.

He'd asked for an interview that was recorded, not live. One where he could take the only copies of the recordings with him afterwards, to edit out anything he didn't want broadcast. 

To make that happen, Nadja had only told 4 people anything.

She asked Alec to book the recording time in the studio for her under one of his shows. He'd owed a favour, and didn't ask why.

Martin, who had heard the call from Chat, knew a fair amount.

And she asked one camera op, the one she most trusted to be discreet, to join her. She hadn't planned on sharing what for, until she arrived.

She also told security she was meeting Chat Noir, and to let him in, but claimed it was a private matter that wouldn't be recorded.

Now that people had seen Chat in the building, they'd have heard what security thought was the truth.

Basically, noone outside of the room knew Chat Noir was being interviewed- and if Nadja asked for a camera op, everyone would figure it out.

And then, the footage would never be allowed to leave the building until it was aired- let alone with the guest whose interview it was. 

Luka suppressed a groan.

He knew he had to offer.

He knew he had to be careful, school his expressions- but hiding behind a camera, that was easier to do.

"I know how," he said, standing up and turning. "I took an elective in videography last year."

Adrien's smile warmed Luka's heart, but he kept his face as steady as he could- better to make it look like he didn't like Chat, than make it clear how close they were. 

"Thank you," Nadja said earnestly. "I don't know what we'd do, otherwise."

Luka nodded slightly, stepping over to the camera. "Anything you want to do before I turn it on?" he asked the room in general, mentally confirming he remembered everything he had to.

"Go for it," he heard Adrien reply. 

Luka went through the process of powering the camera up, disconnecting it from the station's network (so it wouldn't send the footage anywhere), and starting the recording. 

"Okay," Nadja said, taking charge. "When the show starts, we’ll have that camera rolling,” she said with a gesture to a camera they weren’t using. “That’ll get filmed another time, since you’re out of the frame anyway. Basically, I introduce the show and announce my guest- Chat Noir!" 

As she finished her sentence, the enthusiasm ramped up- Luka realized the piece to be edited in would probably end on her saying 'Chat Noir,' and that this would make the cut more seamless.

Behind the camera, Luka smiled. Adrien was clearly glad to be here, even if Nadja was making a bigger deal of his presence than Adrien thought she should.

"Thanks for having me, Nadja," Adrien said politely. "I'm sure your viewers are curious why I'm here alone, without Ladybug." Adrien turned to the camera- and Luka felt like he was talking just to him. 

"I asked Nadja for this interview," he explained, just as he had to Luka the other day. "There's something I want to tell Paris- tell the world. This story is about me- and if Ladybug were here, it would become about her reaction, her response. I've asked- and she's agreed- that she decline on commenting for several days, to let my words speak for themselves."

"Guys, I know you all love Ladybug," Adrien finished. "I care about her too- but this isn't her news, it's mine. I don't mind her taking the spotlight for stories about both of us, or about something else. But for a story about me- Ladybug didn't want to overshadow me."

Luka couldn't help his smile, and was glad he was behind the camera. He was proud to see Adrien claiming his own spotlight, after spending so long forcibly in Gabriel's shadow and voluntarily in Ladybug's.

"I'm glad you and Ladybug are on the same page," Nadja said. "I know I would try and put the focus on you, Chat, but if I'm being honest about the people I work with... you made the right call."

Luka smirked, always appreciative of a good jab at someone. Adrien, for his part, frowned. "Are you sure you want that in the footage?" He asked. 

Nadja smirked in turn. "It's true, isn't it? Besides, you're not the only one editing this. You're just cutting anything incriminating, if needed. Our people can cut any insults I throw at the media industry."

Adrien's frown deepened, and Luka suppressed a sigh. "Chat," he called from behind the camera, "if they edit it to make it look like you said something you didn't mean, or misrepresent anything, you can sue them. You'll have the original footage, so you'd win."

Adrien shot him a look, right through the camera. Nadja, though, just chuckled. "He's right, Chat. In fact, let me just reiterate while the cameras are rolling- so there's proof- that we have a verbal contract ensuring you get final say on the finished product, and that you only agreed to this recording on that condition."

"Thanks," Adrien said, turning his focus back to Nadja. "Sorry."

"You don't need to apologize," Nadja assured him. "I'm glad we can do things this way, instead of live- it's easier on everyone, don't you think?"

Adrien nodded, and Luka thought about just how familiar Adrien must be with live interviews.

"So, Chat," Nadja fell back into her professional demeanor. "Before we get to your news, I have to ask- does Ladybug know what it is, or will she find out at the same time as the rest of Paris?"

"Ladybug knows," Adrien answered. "She was the first person I told, and so far the only."

"What about the people who know you behind the mask?"

Adrien shot a quick glance to the camera- to Luka. That alone was enough to tell Luka that the real answer was no, noone did. 

"I'm going to have to decline to comment," Adrien said politely. "It would be a clue to my identity."

Nadja nodded her understanding. "Well, I have nothing else to ask other than- what is it you'd like to share?"

Luka felt himself hold his breath. 

"I realized recently that I had feelings for someone I knew," Adrien answered, looking at Nadja. "And because of who they were, compared to who I am, it made me realize I'm not straight."

Luka couldn't breathe. 

"So I did some research, looked up some terms and labels, and- well, I found one." Adrien paused, turning to the camera. Looking through it, at Luka. "I fell in love with a boy."

Luka barely noticed Nadja asking a follow-up question, his heartrate accelerating and head pounding. "You say you found a label," she observed. "Can I ask which one?"

"I'm bisexual," Adrien answered simply, finally breaking eye-contact with Luka. Or rather, finally looking away from the camera.

Nadja smiled. "Congratulations, Chat Noir, on finding yourself. I'd like to ask- I know bisexual means different things to different people, depending on who you ask. Some say it's attraction to two genders, or to two or more genders. Some say it's attraction to anyone. What does it mean for you?"

Luka could practically hear the click of Adrien dropping into the Chat Noir persona when he answered, once again looking at the camera- not to Luka, this time, but to the audience who would eventually be watching. "It means everyone's at risk," he said with a smirk.

"Everyone?" Nadja chuckled.

Adrien looked back to her. "Well, like I said. I've caught feelings for someone. Maybe that'll go somewhere, maybe it won't- and Paris may never find out. For obvious reasons, I have to keep a lot about myself secret."

Nadja nodded her approval. "Do you think you'll make an appearance at the Pride celebration in a few months?" 

Adrien paused. "The thought hadn't occurred to me, actually. Now that you suggest it, I would very much like to- but I can't confirm yet whether it will be possible."

"Of course. I hope you find that it's possible- I'm sure you would be a guest of honour."

There was a pause in the room. 

"Sorry everyone, I don't have questions being whispered in my ear- I'm not used to coming up with them myself."

Adrien chuckled at that, and Luka couldn't help but smile at how adorable it was.

"Okay. Is there anything you wish you'd heard from a role model when you were younger? Some advice or wise words that could have helped?"

Luka smirked, certain Nadja must have experience with Adrien No-Self-Esteem Agreste on this side of the mask to know she shouldn't explicitly call him a role model.

"Oh," Adrien said with surprise. "I- I guess since this is recorded, I can take a second?"

"Take your time." 

"I think- I think, I'd want to have had someone to teach me this stuff. I didn't know anything about anything LGBT until I looked it up myself. I'll post some resources on my twitter when this interview gets broadcast, @Puss_In_Leather."

"Oh, perfect," Nadja said. "I don't think you've confirmed on camera yet that that's your handle. We can throw up a graphic and retweet you on the TVI account."

"Thanks," Adrien said quietly. 

Nadja cleared her throat, settling into her more professional demeanor and turning to the camera. "You heard it here first, folks. Chat Noir has come out as bisexual, and confirmed he does indeed run the twitter account Puss In Leather, as many have suspected."

She turned back to Adrien. "Do you have any final words for our viewers?"

Adrien nodded. "Stay kind. Remember that I could be anyone- your kid, your neighbour. I could be Hawkmoth's grandma, even. You never know who around you is in the closet- or a secret superhero- until they tell you. Be a safe person, a kind person. An everyday Ladybug."

"Wise words from a wise hero," Nadja declared. "Stay tuned for- something. I don't know. We'll cut in a voiceover."

Adrien laughed- genuinely laughed. 

"Let's pretend to do some small talk," Nadja said to Adrien, so they have something to mute and put credits over if they want to. 

Luka smirked, knowing the drill and starting to zoom the shot out. "Pretend?" Adrien asked, clear to Luka that he was pretending that very moment that he didn't get it.

"Yeah, a casual conversation. Ever see a show where the credits roll, and you can tell everyone is talking but you can't hear them?"

"Ah," Adrien said, nodding. "A casual conversation. Like we're already having."

Nadja chuckled, getting the joke. "Well played." She turned to Luka. "Would you mind pulling the shot back in?"

Luka nodded, quickly obliging as Nadja turned back to Adrien. "Anything you wanted to say that didn't get covered? It can get edited in so it's before the outro."

Adrien considered that for a moment. "Actually, yeah. Could you ask how Ladybug reacted?"

"I can," Nadja said softly. "I thought you didn't want this to be about her?"

"I think it'll be weird if it doesn't come up- and me telling you is different to her being here."

"I see. Alright. Chat, you mentioned Ladybug already knew what you came here to announce. Can you tell us how she reacted?"

Adrien smiled. "Ladybug was nothing but supportive. I told her I wanted to arrange an interview with Nadja, and she asked me whether I would want her here. She gave me the choice, and at first I did- but I realized, if she was in the interview, the news story would become about her, and her reaction, instead of about me and what I had to say. We discussed it as a team, and agreed it would be best if I did the interview alone."

Nadja nodded. "That makes sense. Would she be open to doing an interview, joint or solo, once the news has been out for a while? I'm sure Paris would love to hear from her."

"Well, Nadja, you'd have to ask La-" 

Adrien was interrupted by a loud beep from the camera. 

"Sorry," Luka said sheepishly. "Storage is almost full- these things don't have much internal, since they usually send everything direct to the station's servers. It won't beep again until it's completely full- we can get maybe a couple minutes in."

"All good," Adrien said with a smile. "Where was I? Right- Well, Nadja, you'd have to ask Ladybug. But I suspect she'd be open to it. We may even make a joint appearance at Pride."

"Is Ladybug LGBT, as well?" Nadja asked.

Adrien paused, glancing to Luka briefly. "Even if she had told me she was, it wouldn't be my place to say. As it stands, as far as I am aware, she'd be there as an ally- to support me, and the rest of the Parisian LGBT community."

"Rephrase that," Nadja ordered. "It's as good as a yes to the press."

"Right. Um, okay." Adrien took a breath, steadied himself, and tried again. "Not that I know of," he said. "but I would want her there. She's always supported me, through everything, in whatever way I've needed or asked. If she can't be considered an ally, noone can."

"It sounds like the two of you are quite close friends. I'm sure many Parisians will be disappointed to hear of your new love interest, and what it could mean for you and Ladybug's future. Care to comment?"

Adrien froze up. 

"Sorry, Chat," Nadja added. "I would have been flayed for not asking, and if I'm right-"

The camera beeped. 

"Yup," Luka chimed in. "Saved by the hard drive." 

Adrien let out a sigh, and Luka busied himself removing the camera's internal storage. 

"You did great, Chat," Martin said, getting up from where Manon- had apparently fallen asleep, Luka noted. "Nice work with the quick correction, by the way," Martin added.

Luka smiled. 

"Agreed," Nadja said, "But remember to cut out the first answer. I don't know if I can stop them from using it."

Adrien nodded, making eye contact with Luka as he handed over the drive. 

"Off the record," Nadja said as she collected her and Manon's belongings, "If you were to start seeing someone, do you think you'd tell them you're Chat Noir?"

"No comment," Adrien answered quickly, breaking eye contact with Luka and stepping away. 

He looked so... Luka scrambled to get his brain in gear. Adrien being cute dressed in a catsuit with a flushed face was not the important part here. 

"I, uh, need to text my friend Adrien," Luka announced to the room at large, grabbing his coat. "He's expecting to hear from me."

Adrien smiled. 

Luka the thoughtful, making sure he knew he wasn't being abandoned. 

Luka the full-of-surprises, operating the expensive and complicated TVI camera.

Luka the supportive, finding a way to be there for Adrien even before being asked- did Luka even have an aunt?

Luka the hopefully-romantic-partner.

Luka the clever, clever enough to pick up on the hint that Adrien was talking about Luka when he said he fell for someone.

Luka the probably-Ladybug, who'd said she already had a way in- and the only person with no alibi for being Ladybug that Adrien had seen anywhere near the studio.

"Chat?" Martin asked, metaphorically slapping Adrien back into the moment. Adrien glanced around- Nadja must have left with Manon just after Luka had left, as it was just the two of them.

"Hm?" 

"You, ah, you spaced out. A lot." Martin broke eye contact, looking to the door. "I was trying to say, thanks for doing this. I've only come out to one person, myself, and- well, you inspired me."

Adrien smiled. He'd helped someone- the whole reason he'd decided to do the interview and come out as Chat- before the interview was even broadcast. 

"I, ah, think I should wait until after this airs, though. Don't know how to explain you inspired me to come out, before you come out."

"You could tell them," Adrien said instinctively, only realizing after he said it that it was true.

"Huh?"

"You could tell them. About the interview, my coming out. I wouldn't mind." Adrien put a hand on Martin's shoulder, wanting to give a comforting gesture. "If you want to wait, you should. But don't feel like you have to wait on my behalf- I know enough about your class to know I'm okay with you telling them. Just make sure Alya doesn't post anything until after the interview goes out."

Martin nodded, and Adrien took that as his cue. 

Adrien made for the stairwell, feeling an adreneline rush. Maybe he could get a quick run in as Chat Noir before the photoshoot?

Adrien hopped the railing, into the gap between the stairs up and stairs down, and extended his baton to vault him all the way to the roof access door. 

Yeah, he had time for a run. 

Bursting onto the roof, Adrien sprinted to the edge and leapt as far as he could. 

The feeling was magical- Adrien would never stop loving it. 

Luka frowned at his phone. 

Adrien should've had time to check it and answer before the photoshoot, shouldn't he?

Not to mention that the shoot had been over for several minutes- Adrien would be in the car home, and usually that would mean he could text freely.

*Luka: Do you want help editing the footage?*

Luka had sent the text pretty much as soon as he left the TV station. 

Maybe Adrien hadn't decided? But if Luka was right- and he knew he was, he had to be- Adrien would've agreed in a split second. 

...unless Luka wasn't right. 

Luka typed out another text.

*Luka: I don't know if I was reading into things too much, but*

It didn't sound right. Luka tried again.

*Luka: You said you fell for someone. Is*

No, wrong again. Luka sighed. 

*Luka: I think the conversation we need to have will be easier in person. Can you drop by before your patrol?*

Luka hit send. 

20 minutes later- 20 agonizing minutes- Luka heard his phone chime with a text back, while he was preparing dinner. Then a second. A third.

Luka hurried to wash his hands of the raw meat he'd been handling, anxious to see what Adrien had said, as the fourth alert sounded.

*Adrien: Sorry, went for a run and got back just in time for the shoot. Only seeing this now.*

*Adrien: Would love the help. Tomorrow?*

*Adrien: Agreed it should be in person, but no time before patrol.*

*Adrien: Will you be up late enough to talk after, or should I come tomorrow?*

Luka groaned. He didn't want to wait for tomorrow- so he decided he'd stay up. 

He could busy himself with the homework he'd been neglecting, while he waited.

Or, more realistically, video games.

*Luka: After is fine.*

*Luka: Well, depending on when that is*

*Adrien: usually just after midnight. That work?*

*Luka: Yup :)*

*Luka: I was gonna be up until 2 anyway.*

That wasn't a total lie- anxiety would do that to him, and 2 was usually when exhaustion outranked anxiety. 

*Luka: If you end up staying out any later than usual, let me know.*

*Luka: I'll be too worried about you if you don't check in by 1.*

*Luka: Then I won't get any sleep at all.*

*Adrien: I promise, you'll hear from me by midnight- I'll set a reminder.*

*Luka: Thanks. See you tonight.*

*Adrien: Actually, I should warn you- Plagg likes to cancel my reminders and stuff to annoy me.*

*Adrien: I'll kill him if he does that with this reminder, but just in case he does cancel it-*

*Adrien: I'll try to text by midnight, but try not to worry unless you still haven't heard by 1.*

*Luka: I can try.*

Adrien put his phone down, turning to where Plagg was pretending to nap. 

"You know, I wasn't going to ask for help with this one," Adrien said. The homework he was working on was history- and too recent for Plagg to help. 

Not that Plagg was any help with less-recent history- either Plagg's memory was more accurate than Adrien's history textbook, or Plagg made things up to mess with Adrien.

Adrien secretly hoped it was the latter. Thinking about history being recorded with that much error was... existentially difficult.

"I'm napping for pleasure, not avoidance," Plagg retorted, "and you're interrupting."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Listen, I need to transform for a sec- set an alarm on the baton."

"You do know I can do that for you, right?" Plagg groaned back.

"You know, I'm not even surprised you'd keep that from me."

Plagg chuckled. "This was the first time you ever planned to transform only to set an alarm. Why bother setting it myself when you're about to transform anyway?"

"Because you can do it by thinking about it, instead of making me waste my time with those confusing menus- which I know you do on purpose, because they're never like that in combat- which takes away time I could spend ordering you cheese."

"Sure," Plagg retorted sarcastically. "Like you've manually ordered cheese in the last month. The fridge does it for you."

It was true- Adrien's father, about a month prior, had been sent a smart fridge for free- presumably on the hope that he'd endorse the product, or actually use it.

When Nathalie had been instructed to dispose of it, Adrien had asked if it could be moved to his room instead. 

It took a week before Adrien found out Plagg could use the capacitive touch screen himself without Adrien's help- raising some interesting questions about what kwami are made of, since he also knew Plagg could choose not to interact with it after he'd pretended to be incapable just so Adrien would do it for him.

"When and what?" Plagg asked impatiently.

"Uh, midnight. Call Luka."

"Done and done. Now let me nap in peace."

Adrien turned back to his desk, and unmuted his mic. 

"Sorry about that, professor," he said, addressing his chinese tutor. "I promise, it was important."

Ladybug felt restless, pacing the roof of the school while she waited for patrol.

She knew Chloé wanted to keep being Queen Bee- and she really, really, wanted to let her- but after Heroes' Day, she couldn't do it. Not in good conscience.

She'd been putting off thinking about it, until Chloé brought up Queen Bee at school. 

Alya had scoffed, reminding Chloé - and Martin- that Queen Bee hadn't been around in weeks. 

Chat Noir knew Chloé a little better than Ladybug did, so she knew she had to talk to him as the first step. 

Her anxious energy had been driving her up the walls waiting for tonight's patrol, so Tikki had suggested transforming early. 

Wait- his anxious energy? 

Ladybug paused her pacing, contemplating how to gender her non-transformed self. She'd taken to using female pronouns as Ladybug, unless referring to her civilian identity as though a separate person.

She'd also taken to using neutral pronouns, at least in her own head, as Martin, unless referring to Ladybug.

But being Ladybug and referring to her own untransformed self- not to Martin, but to whoever-Ladybug-is... 

Ladybug hadn't considered it. 

Ladybug was a persona- a mask. She'd known that from day 1, when the appearance her transformation took on made her look... well, noone would ever suspect Martin of being Ladybug. 

But what she was now starting to realize, was that Martin was a mask, too. A persona she put on- not in personality, per se, but in identity. Martin was a cis boy- the label was a mask, and the name was part of it.

Different sides to the polyhedron that was her entirety. 

That wasn't quite right. The metaphor was, but the pronoun not so much.

The polyhedron used they/them pronouns. 

The polyhedron needed a name.

"What's new, bugaboo?"

Ladybug jumped, though only metaphorically. Battle-hardened reflexes kept her actions smooth and steady, dropping into a battle stance and turning to face the noise.

"Hey, kitty," she said, dropping the battle stance in favour of sitting cross-legged. "I forot the dice."

Chat smirked at her. "How will we ever make a decision, then?" he teased. 

He'd objected to the dice, at first- not to using it, but the idea that they needed one. Chat was sure they could just decide for themselves and make a random pattern.

Ladybug had insisted on the dice, since it would keep them from forming a pattern by accident. 

"I'm thinking of a number-" 

"Seven!" Chat interrupted. 

Ladybug couldn't help but laugh. "...between one and six," she finished. "Just like a dice. Get it right, and we make an appearance."

Chat shrugged. "I already got it wrong," he pointed out. 

Ladybug was about to object, but remembered what she wanted to talk about. It would be easier if they weren't running around in public during that conversation.

So, instead of answering, she lay down.

"We need to figure out what we're doing with Queen Bee," Ladybug said, watching the sky. 

She heard Chat sit down beside her. "That person I like suggested something," Chat offered. 

"Is that still up in the air?" Ladybug asked. "Wait, nevermind. Not as important. What's the suggestion?"

"I'm going to their place after patrol to nail it down," Chat answered. "They said Chloé couldn't risk Hawkmothing knowing she's still on the team."

Ladybug frowned. "That's a statement, not a suggestion."

"They also said she didn't have to actually stop being on the team. That it only mattered Hawkmoth not realize she's on the team."

"Well, how do we do that?" 

"Not sure," Chat admitted. "I say we go talk to her, let her know we want to keep her on board in secret- she's getting frustrated that she hasn't heard from us."

Ladybug nodded- they had seen as much first hand. "I think that's your job," she suggested. "You're on better terms with her than I am anyway, and I've got a lot on my plate right now."

Chat sat up beside her, and Ladybug turned her head to make eye contact. "I think we need to sit down, the three of us, and talk," Chat said. "But if you're busy, I can talk to her solo and let her know we're planning a team meeting."

"Team meeting," Ladybug repeated. "Do you think Rena and Carapace should be there? They might have ideas."

"If it's safe to have that many miraculous out at once, then absolutely."

Ladybug hummed to herself for a moment. "I'll ask the guardian," she decided. "Wait, I don't have time- can you ask him?"

"Ladybug- I don't know where to find him." 

Ladybug shot up. "What? He said he talked to you!" 

Chat looked surprised that she hadn't known. "He's only ever come to me," Chat confirmed. "I don't know where to find him."

"If it weren't a huge risk to go there in costume," Ladybug growled, "I'd take you there right now and chew him out for not keeping you in the loop."

She pulled out her yo-yo, sending a text to Chat. "That's the addresss," she explained. "Never go there while transformed."

Chat nodded, messing with his baton- probably forwarding the text to his civvie phone. 

Ladybug wondered idly if that would be a risk to Master Fu- it wasn't like Chat would have included any incriminating context. In fact, noone even knew- 

Hm.

Everyone who *did* know Chat's identity could be trusted.

Ladybug tried not to feel offput by the fact that someone knew Chat's identity now. She knew she'd feel better if she knew who it was, but that would mean knowing Chat's identity. 

It was one thing for a civilian to know the identity of just one of them- if only Chat, or only Ladybug, were compromised, there would still be someone to fight Hawkmoth's akumas.

It was another thing for Chat or Ladybug to know the other. If one of them were akumatized, instead of only losing one miraculous- they'd lose both at once. 

It was a third thing entirely for anyone else to know both of them- at least if in the case of Chat and Ladybug knowing each other, there would be a kwami around to act if they got akumatized.

That gave Ladybug an idea, which she filed away for later. 

Adrien was ecstatic. 

Ladybug had gotten upset with the guardian for keeping him in the dark.

She trusted him more than she trusted the guardian's caution. Adrien hadn't been sure if her trust was still so complete after things had changed between them, up until that moment.

He hadn't even realized he'd been worried about it, until he wasn't.

Navigating the baton's frustratingly complex menus, Adrien forwarded the text. 

He almost sent it to himself, but stopped. What if Father or Nathalie saw it? The address would be investigated.

Instead, he sent it to Luka.

*Chat Noir: https://goo.gl/maps/d8mqHJfbYXD5tt6m7*

*Chat Noir: Context later. Couldn't risk sending to myself, needed it somewhere.*

*Chat Noir: Thanks for being there this morning, btw*

*Luka Couffaine: I'm adding you to my contacts as Cat Sitter*

Adrien smirked at the reply, a little disappointed he couldn't risk putting anything suspiciously familiar in the baton's contacts. He'd lost it in battle one too many times for that.

"How'd the interview go?" Ladybug asked. 

Adrien flushed, fumbling his baton away and grateful Ladybug was looking at the sky again. "It, ah-" Adrien stammered for words. "It went well. I haven't watched it back yet, but I don't think there's much to cut."

"Do you have the footage with you? We could watch it now, if you'd like."

"I'll have to transform back, but yeah."

In response, Ladybug closed her eyes. "Let me know when you're decent," she said with a teasing tone to her voice. 

Adrien quickly scanned the rooftop and surroundings, before lying down beside Ladybug to avoid being visible from the ground as much as possible. The school was a good place to meet, when it was closed- the only places nearby with line of sight to the roof was from across the courtyard on the second story. 

"Claws in."

"Camembert."

Adrien ignored the demand, pulling out the hard drive from the camera. "Wait," he said, turning to Ladybug even though she had her eyes closed. "How do we plug this into anything?"

"Depends what it is," Ladybug answered. "Pass it over?" Adrien did, and she felt it in her hands for a moment. 

Ladybug sat up, and turned away- probably so she could open her eyes. "Oh, yeah. I've plugged these into the yo-yo before."

"Camembert."

Adrien ignored it, again. Plagg knew which pocket the cheese was in.

"Gods, Plagg," Ladybug muttered. "Just go get some from my-"

"Ladybug?"

"Shouldn't have said that," She said simply. "Plagg, seriously. You know where to find some, so go get some."

"Fine."

Adrien watched Plagg phase through the floor. "Um,"

"Chat, I'm still not sure whether we should give up entirely, and I don't have the energy to discuss it."

"Understood, milady. Dropping it."

"Can you see my yo-yo from there?" Ladybug asked.

Adrien looked, and realized she had the interview queued up already. "Yup."

Plagg yawned, scratching his head, as he tried to remember which locker was Martin's. 

This lasted about 2 seconds, before he decided to just check all of them.

As luck typical of Plagg would have it, the only locker left unchecked when he found Martin's was the only locker he'd known wasn't it going in - Adrien's.

And the two were side by side- which Plagg realized he should make a point of remembering.

The cheese was tucked away in a sealed container, which had just enough empty space in it for a kwami to phase inside and become corporeal- which Plagg had to do to eat.

Martin thought a lot of things through, and stashing kwami stations like this was a great idea. Since the container had a mix of snacks- camembert the only one Plagg bothered to notice- it probably had something that every kwami would be willing to eat, if not their food of choice.

Plagg finished the camembert, and looked at the rest of the snacks. Sweets for Tikki, dried fruit for Trixx and Wayzz, honey for Pollen. Carrots for Fluff, Kaalki, and Daizzi. It went on, a small kwami-sized portion of each item- all individually wrapped.

What really struck Plagg, though, was that Martin had even included snacks for Nooroo and Duusu. 

It had been 200 years since they'd been safe. 

Since Plagg had seen them.

At least 2 years, likely more, that they'd been under Hawkmoth's control.

Plagg spotted the gummy snakes, there for Sass. 

Luka was one of Sass's.

Most humans could be sorted into which miraculous would be the best fit - which kwami, would be the best fit.

Not all humans could be sorted to a best-fit from the mother box- the miracle box Plagg was from. 

It was rare for a human to have a perfect fit. 

Martin was a perfect fit for Tikki.

Adrien was a perfect fit for Plagg.

Most of Adrien's class and friends were good fits for other kwami- really good fits. 

Alix was one of the best fits for Fluff that Plagg had ever seen.

Nino was a very good fit for Wayzz- the best fit of anyone other than a guardian- and only one guardian had ever wielded a miraculous.

Alya was nearly perfect for Trixx. 

Max was the most ideal fit for Kaalki that Plagg had seen since Plato.

Chloé... was working on it.

But Luka? Luka was a perfect fit for Sass.

Plagg had met perfect matches for both himself and Tikki before- and even one for Fluff.

But not once had he ever met someone who was a perfect match for any other kwami, until Luka. 

Sure, there had been one or two, but Plagg had never met them.

Let alone during a time when the guardian was likely to let them meet their kwami, to say nothing of wielding the power.

Plagg had to talk to Tikki. 

They had to get the timing right.

They had to get Luka to be granted the snake.

Against Hawkmoth, Plagg had a feeling it wouldn't be long before the heroes would desperately need the power of a fully-realized snake.

"Oof," Ladybug muttered as the footage finished. "She really threw you at the last second there."

She heard Chat chuckle behind her. "Yeah, but she didn't actually want an answer."

"You should probably cut the last few seconds, so it's not as obvious she did that on purpose. If you cut mid-sentence on her apology, it'll look less like you did it, and more like it's where the footage got cut off."

"Good thinking. So, that, the answer I flubbed- sorry, by the way. Anything else?"

Ladybug smiled. "Don't worry about the flub, Chat. It was exactly how I would've wanted you to answer- Nadja knows the press better than I do. I'm glad she's putting our interests ahead of her employer."

A pause. 

"And no, I don't think we need to cut anything else. You said some really powerful stuff- I can't wait to see the final edit."

Ladybug could swear she heard a sob. 

In a flash, she closed her eyes and spun to grab her partner. Chat Noir needed a hug, and kwami or not he'd get it. 

"Thanks, bug," Chat whispered, melting into her grip.

They stayed like that for a moment, before getting interrupted. 

"You need to stock up better, pigtails. That was barely half a serving."

Ladybug laughed, still hugging Chat. "That was two servings, since you're the most likely kwami to need the stash."

"Just ignore him," Chat quipped, clearly amused. "He's a glutton."

"I am not a glu-"

"Claws out."

Ladybug pulled away from the hug, just enough to look Chat in the face. "You gonna be okay?"

Chat nodded. "Yeah," he whispered.

Ladybug leaned back into the hug, satisfied with the answer. 

It could have been seconds or hours by the time Chat's baton sounded an alert.

Startled, Ladybug jumped to her feet- but Chat just rolled over, reaching to where the baton was lying. "s'just an alarm," he mumbled, picking up the baton and whacking it against the roof to silence it. "Need to text my- um. yeah."

Ladybug smirked, settling back down. "How late is it?" she asked, not even sure what time she'd gotten to the roof, let alone how long it had been.

"Midnight," Chat replied. "I- I want you to meet them."

"Hm?" Ladybug asked, processing. "Your hopefully-boyfriend? How do we do that, and keep me from figuring you out?"

"Lend a miraculous?" Chat asked, shrugging. "Not sure. Was hoping you could help think of something."

"I'll sleep on it and let you know," Ladybug offered, not sure what other options existed- or how realistic the suggestion was. 

Chat hopped to his feet. "Thanks, bugaboo. For everything."

"Of course. Think you can squeeze in Chloé and Master Fu by next patrol?"

"Yeah, I got time. See you then."

"Enjoy your date!"

Adrien sure hoped it would be a date. 

He hopped down into the same alley he'd used before, and walked up to the Liberty.

"Permission to come aboard?" He called up, unsure if there would be anyone around to reply.

"Yes!" Luka shouted, his voice carrying from belowdeck. "I'm in the living room!"

Adrien smirked, walking the gangplank. "It's midnight," Adrien called back, as quietly as he could while being sure Luka heard him. "Isn't everyone asleep?"

"Nope!" Anarka shouted back.

Adrien went from excited to terrified, just like that. 

As he entered the main living area, Adrien saw Anarka Couffaine sip on a drink, smiling pleasantly.

Adrien knew her well enough to be terrified by that.

Anarka was sitting backwards on a chair, in the middle of the space, facing Luka- who was sitting on the couch. 

"So, Adrien," Anarka started. "What are your intentions with my lad?" 

Adrien looked to Luka, who just shrugged and gestured to the seat beside them. 

"Um," Adrien stammered, looking back to Anarka as he joined Luka on the couch. "We haven't- we haven't talked about anything like that yet. What we are."

Adrien felt a little calmer beside Luka, especially when Luka took his hand. It was a source of strength. "She won't stop," Luka whispered. "Just tell her."

"He's right, lad," Anarka chimed in. "I'm persistent."

"Well-" Adrien shot a quick glance to Luka, and noticed in his periphery when Luka shrugged in response. "I want to ask Luka out. On a date."

"And?"

"And date Luka?"

"And?"

Adrien took a breath, shooting a glance to Luka. 

"And the rest of that is our business," Luka answered for him, "Not my mother's."

Adrien squeezed Luka's hand in thanks, as Anarka let out a sigh. "Fair's fair, lads. Be good to my Luka, Adrien, or I'll have ya keelhauled."

"Aye, Captain," Adrien replied automatically. 

Anarka laughed, heading abovedeck.

"Sorry," Luka whispered almost immediately. "Juleka invited me to join her and Rose to the movies, and mom got suspicious when I said I'd stay home. I told her the guy I like was coming over, and I was pretty sure he was going to ask me out."

Adrien blinked. "You told her I was going to ask you out?"

Luka shrugged. "It felt 50/50, but if I said that to her she'd have been a lot worse just now."

"What tipped me off?"

"When Nadja asked if you'd tell a romantic partner your identity."

Adrien sighed. "I mean, yeah. Fair."

"You're adorable when you're flustered, by the way."

Adrien froze up, stammering. "Wh- do you know how to stop?"

"Do you want me to?" Luka asked devilishly. 

"Never."

"Good. Come on," Luka said, getting up and pulling Adrien with them- towards Luka and Juleka's room.

"Um-" Adrien looked to the stairs leading abovedeck, uncertain how to phrase his concern. 

Luka picked up on it though- "She doesn't care." Luka paused. "Well, she does care, but only that you're respectful and responsible. Not what we do together."

Adrien's eyes went wide. "You want to-"

Luka snorted. "Eventually, yeah, but I think that's skipping a few steps. I just wanted to have a conversation noone's walking in on."

"What about Juleka?" 

"Staying at Rose's tonight. She does that alot- it's the main reason I haven't gotten fed up of sharing a room with her yet."

Adrien nodded in understanding. "Makes sense," he said, letting Luka lead him to the bedroom. 

"How was patrol?" Luka asked, once the door was closed. 

"Um, went fine. Ladybug forgot the dice. Don't we need to talk?"

"I thought we just did," Luka said softly. "You said you wanted to ask me out, I invited you to my bedroom. Would you rather we spell it out properly?"

Adrien nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious.

Luka just took his hand, and sat beside him. "So, correct me if I'm wrong, but you want to be my boyfriend."

Adrien nodded again.

"I want to be your boyfriend," Luka added. "We're boyfriends now. Good?"

"I guess. I just- I don't know. All I have to draw on is media, and- it never goes the way this went.

"Our relationship, Adrien, can go however you and I want it to- media be damned, if it doesn't match what we want."

"You're my boyfriend now," Adrien observed quietly, revelling in being able to say it. "I have a boyfriend."

"Yup," Luka agreed. "I'm all yours. What was that link about, by the way?"

It took a moment to remember what Luka was talking about. "Oh, uh- not sure how much I can say? It's an address for someone who helps me and Ladybug behind the scenes."

Luka nodded. "I think we need some ground rules," they observed. "I ask questions because I'm curious, but rule 1 is that you always remember it's okay not to answer them. You have an important job, and sometimes it needs you to keep a secret."

"I- thanks," Adrien said quietly, falling back to lie down on the bed. "I needed to hear that." 

"Of course," Luka replied, lying down in turn. "Can we cuddle for a bit?"

Adrien nodded. "I'd like that," he whispered. It felt too important to say any louder. 

"Me too," Luka agreed, snuggling up. "Can I give you a rule 2?"

Adrien hummed assent, melting into their embrace. 

"Secrets are okay. Lies are uncomfortable for me. I'd rather you tell me you're keeping a secret, than lie to me. Especially when it's about... your job. Is that okay?"

"I wouldn't want to lie to you," Adrien mumbled. "But what if people are around?"

"How about a codeword?" Luka offered. "You could tell me it's about the cheese gremlin."

"I prefer connoisseur, but if you must," Plagg grumbled from the direction of Adrien's schoolbag.

Adrien nearly choked on his laughter. "I love it," he giggled, "but maybe cheesemonger would be less conspicuous."

"He is a gremlin, though," Luka pointed out. "That aside, cheesemonger it is."

Adrien couldn't help but smile. He had the best boyfriend.

"I asked Ladybug if you could join us," he said suddenly. "Or- well, I said I wanted her to meet you. But it's too risky for her to know who I am, and by extension who you are. So I suggested we give you a miraculous."

Luka didn't say anything, so Adrien rolled over to look at him. 

"You'd do that?" Luka asked. "You'd trust me with one?"

Of course he would. He'd let Luka take the ring right this second, if they asked. His only hesitation would be subjecting Luka to Plagg's company.

"Well, yeah," Adrien answered, like the answer should be obvious- because it was. "Of coure I trust my boyfriend."

"I wasn't your boyfriend yet," Luka pointed out. 

Adrien waved a hand dramatically. "Details."

Luka bit his lip. "What- What did Ladybug say?"

"She's gonna sleep on it. Which in my experience, is code for asking her kwami's opinion."

"What do you think she'll say?"

"I think she'll hand me a miraculous to lend you," Adrien answered certainly. "Or, maybe ask my opinion which miraculous would suit you before she actually gets one out. Point is, she's gonna go for it."

Luka looked so uncertain, and Adrien hated that. "Ladybug and I trust each other. She's chosen two allies, that I don't know, to join us. I trusted them instantly because I trust her. I know it'll be the same for you."

"You'll see," Adrien insisted. "When I hand you that miraculous, you'll see."

Luka wasn't sure when he'd fallen asleep, but Adrien was gone when he woke up. 

Seeing the time- and the texts waiting on his phone- Luka realized why.

*Adrien: Had to get back to the mansion before wake-up call. Couldn't bring myself to wake you up. Left $50 to cover the stolen cheese.*

Luka blinked. Since when had the Liberty had that much cheese on board? Or any cheese for that matter?

...Did Adrien not know how much cheese cost?

*Luka: Babe, there's no way we had more than like $5 of cheese on hand.*

*Luka: And I'd never ask you to pay for snacks when you're here.*

*Luka: Even if you're sharing the snacks with a gremlin.*

*Adrien: I didn't actually see how much cheese it was.*

*Adrien: The gremlin described it as 'not enough', and he's said that about way more than $50 of cheese.*

*Adrien: I would've left more, if I'd had more on hand.*

*Adrien: Glad he didn't do as much damage as I thought.*

*Luka: Next time I see you, I'm returning this money.*

*Adrien: Nah. If you really don't want it for yourself, stock up on camembert.*

*Adrien: It'll be handy for you to have some.*

Luka was distracted from his phone- and his boyfriend- by Juleka letting herself in. 

"Mom said Adrien went home," she observed in her quiet way. "How'd it go?"

"Really good. Weren't you going straight to school from Rose's place?"

"School's cancelled. There's an akuma."

*Luka: Akuma. School. Stay safe, text after.*

"Who are you texting?"

*Adrien: I promise. <3*

"My boyfriend," Luka said with a grin. "Wanna watch the broadcast?"

"Not really."

"Well, I do- I'm gonna head abovedeck."

Adrien couldn't help but steal a glimpse of the Liberty on his way past- it wouldn't slow him down on the way to the akuma, after all. 

Luka was down there, coming up from belowdecks. 

Adrien knew he couldn't stop, see where Luka went. It would be irresponsible, when he had an akuma to deal with. 

As curious as he was to see if Luka would leave the ship and transform into Ladybug, he had to set that aside.

If- was it an if?- Luka was Ladybug, they'd tell Adrien when they were ready. 

And if they weren't, then it was even more of a waste of Adrien's time. 

Adrien got to the akuma- no sign of Ladybug yet (Luka was behind him)- and realized why school had been cancelled. The akuma was at the Dupain-Cheng bakery, right across the street.

The akuma had a hostage- Martin. They were screaming something about giving up the recipe for something- a satisfied customer, then, which was a little ironic considering they'd been akumatized.

Scanning the scene, Adrien spotted Martin's parents. They were taking cover in an alley nearby, debating- probably about whether to step in. 

Adrien paused, waiting for a moment when the akuma wouldn't see- there.

It was a quick and easy movement to vault over to the worried couple. "Hey," Adrien said quietly. "I need to know everything I can about what happened. Did you see where the butterfly went?"

Ms. Cheng looked to her husband. "Tom?"

Mr. Dupain shook his head. "I was in the kitchen- Martin was taking orders."

"I was still upstairs," Ms. Cheng added.

Adrien nodded understanding, contemplating. Martin was observant- if they could get to him, he might be able to tell Adrien or Ladybug where to find the akuma. 

He turned to Mr. Dupain. "Could you hear anything that happened? It could be useful."

"No, I- I had music playing. The first thing I heard was Martin's scream."

Adrien glanced back and forth the worried parents. "I'll keep Martin safe," he promised. "He'll be okay."

Martin was tired. 

They were in the grip of an akuma- a regular occurrence, though usually with superpowers on hand- yet again. 

They just wanted to sleep in, but no. A shift in the bakery, a customer who won't take no for an answer. An akuma.

Martin briefly considered whether they should send Tikki to alert Chat Noir that Ladybug couldn't come right away, but decided not to. If they got any opportunity to transform, Tikki would need to be there. 

At least Martin knew where the akuma was- in the villain's shoe. 

It was interesting- Hawkmoth had finally chosen for the akumatized object to remain inconspicuous after the transformation, the one time Ladybug watched him do it.

Tikki really did have good luck.

It was a boring power, anyway. The akuma was bigger and stronger than human, sure, but beyond that- it could tell what the recipe was for anything it ate. Hardly a combat power- Hawkmoth was probably counting on wearing the heroes down by hiding the butterfly. 

Being a mostly-boring akuma, it was easy for Chat Noir to rescue the 'civilian' the akuma had taken hostage- but with Plagg's bad luck back in the mix, Martin was brought to their parents. Who wouldn't let them go anywhere until the akuma was gone. 

Great.

Martin opened his purse, and motioned for Tikki to track down Chat Noir.

Adrien was on a rooftop, contemplating his options, when a kwami appeared.

"Hi, Chat Noir!"

"Tikki-" It was nice to see her, sure, but seeing her meant - "Ladybug's held up?"

"You'll need to go see Master Fu- tell him I suggested Sass for this one. I have to get back to Ladybug, in case they get a chance to slip away."

Adrien nodded, pulling up his recent texts to Luka on the baton before Tikki even left. 

If he was looking for more proof Plagg made it complicated to mess with him, it took him barely two motions to pull up what he needed now that it was urgent.

It wasn't hard to sneak off or find somewhere to transform in the area of the address.

While he walked- quickly, but without running to avoid suspicion- he called Luka.

"Adrien? What-"

Adrien cut Luka off. "We need you. Meet me at the address I didn't tell you about, but wait outside."

With that, he hung up- this was the place. 

Adrien let himself in. 

Master Fu didn't expect to be visited by Chat Noir- the boy shouldn't know where he was. There was a reason Fu compartmentalized knowledge, and here those reasons were being totally ignored. 

But he didn't let any of that show. Instead, he took a calm sip of his tea. "What brings you to me, Chat Noir?" He asked. 

"Tikki found me- Ladybug got held up. She told me to come here, and to tell you she recommeneded Sass."

Of course it had been Tikki's idea. She held herself like a rule-follower, but when she got nervous she threw it all out the window. "I see."

Fu leaned over to the record player in front of him, entering the code to retrieve the miracle box. 

Rather than his usual spiel of choosing an ally, he simply opened a single drawer and handed over a bracelet. 

"You will need to choose an ally that has both your and Ladybug's complete trust," Fu intoned. "Plagg will help you make a choice."

Hopefully, the demon would be responsible enough to indicate someone they both knew, and who was a good match for Sass. 

"Of course, Master," Adrien acknowledged, taking his leave.

"Wayzz, could you pass me the remote?" Master Fu called. "I want to watch the broadcast, this time."

Luka arrived at the address, just in time to see Adrien leaving a massage parlor. In the middle of an akuma attack. When he should be Chat Noir.

Instead of questioning anything, Luka just raised an eyebrow. 

"Luka Couffaine," Adrien said stoically- clearly putting on a show- "This is the miraculous of the..." Adrien trailed off, inspecting the design of a bracelet before holding it out. "-snake. No idea what it does, but Ladybug's kwami said we needed it."

"Right," Luka said, taking the bracelet. "So what-"

The instant Luka touched the bracelet, a glow lit up the space briefly and coalesced into a kwami- or so Luka assumed, by the similarity to Plagg.

"Greetings! I am Sass-" the kwami stopped, looking around. "And you're in public. Didn't he tell you to do this somewhere private?"

Adrien and Luka both scanned the vicinity- thankfully clear. "No," Adrien said, looking a little hurt. "He just gave me the miraculous and told me to choose someone Ladybug and I could trust."

Luka paused. "Ladybug told you to choose me?"

"Ladybug isn't available," Adrien admitted. "But she'll approve of this, just you see."

"If you say so," Luka muttered. "So, what exactly is the deal here?" he asked, turning to Sass.

As they spoke, they ducked into a nearby alley and were using side streets to slowly approach the area where the akuma was.

"I'm the kwami of intuition," Sass explained. "Once you transform, you'll understand your power... intuitively."

A groan came from Adrien's pocket. "You used that joke last time."

Luka tried not to laugh at that. "How do I transform?"

"Simply put the bracelet on, and say 'Sass, scales slither.'"

Adrien led Luka around a corner, and then stopped. "Let's go. Plagg, claws out!"

Luka watched, mesmerised, as his boyfriend transformed. "Sass," he whispered slowly. "Scales slither."

Martin was growing increasingly annoyed at their parents. They appreciated the love and concern, but it was getting in the way of being a superhero. 

When Tikki got back, Martin felt incredibly relieved. She flitted her way, staying out of sight, to Martin's shoulder, hiding among their shoulder-length hair. "Chat Noir has gone to the guardian," she whispered. "Help is on the way."

It had to be his love interest, Martin figured. It felt a little odd, knowing that. Chat Noir was the only hero Martin had fought alongside without knowing their identity- and Martin knew Chat Noir. Perhaps not his name, but they knew him inside and out. 

Bringing in someone else Martin didn't know- at all- felt strange. Foreign, almost. 

When they saw Chat reappear on a rooftop alongside a snake-themed hero, Martin felt a little surprised. They knew Plagg would have pointed out the best fit for Chat's... partner? No, Ladybug was Chat's partner. Paramour? They'd have to ask later. 

Anyway, the fact that Plagg had recommended the snake- frequently described by Master Fu as the second most-dangerous miraculous he still had in the box- Martin couldn't help but be shocked. If that was the best fit, Chat had picked a good one.

"I'll be back," Tikki whispered in Martin's ear. "I need to debrief them."

Martin nodded, watching her go.

Tikki was pleased to see exactly who she expected using Sass's miraculous. Plagg had finally admitted it to himself, it seemed, that he'd be spending a lot of time with Sass for this generation. 

"It's nice to see you both," Tikki chirped as she perched on the tip of Chat's baton. "Ladybug's okay, they're just- well, they can't get away from the people they're with to transform. I can deal with the butterfly once it's out, but we won't have Lucky Charm, and any destruction of property will be permanent- though, I haven't seen this akuma cause any."

"Thanks for the info," Chat said with a nod. "I can add that Martin- the hostage I rescued earlier- said the akuma's in the left shoe."

Tikki nodded- she'd seen it too. "I know Ladybug is good at plans, but- that's not something she gets from me. All I can think of is that you activate second chance now- I want to be with Ladybug, in case she can get away. If you get a point where you can get the akuma, you can turn the clock back and tell me not to go. If I'm gone long enough for you to time out, I'll come back to this roof."

Luka nodded- Tikki would have to ask his superhero alias later- and called on the power. "Second chance!"

Giving a brief pause so Luka had time to speak if he needed to, Tikki hurried back to her holder.

Adrien watched Tikki fly off, mesmerized at how easily the tiny kwami stayed out of sight. 

"Ladybug joins us in four minutes," Luka said beside him. 

Adrien tried not to frown. It meant Ladybug wasn't Luka- that his two favourite people weren't the same one.

Of course, he'd known that since Tikki first spoke to him on this same roof- Luka couldn't have been held up from being Ladybug, and also available to be- 

"Viperion," Luka said. "You ask the same time every loop."

Adrien sighed. 

"And don't think we aren't talking about that later," Luka- Viperion- added. 

"Alright," Adrien said, putting himself in business mode. "Game plan?"

"Sit and wait." 

"What?"

"In about 3 minutes, the akuma comes back here and tosses the Dupain-Cheng bakery again. When that happens, we move in. I'll deal with the traps the akuma sets behind it, you restrain it until Ladybug gets there."

Adrien blinked. "It's been setting traps?"

"I think Hawkmoth tells it to. Any reason Hawkmoth might think you'd be any more reckless saving Martin than anyone else?"

Adrien shrugged. "I was pretty protective of him during the Befana attack a while back," he suggested. "I've talked to him a couple of times in the suit, but very rarely."

"Maybe Hawkmoth has a grudge against him for some reason," Luka suggested. Viperion suggeseted.

Adrien really needed to get a handle on the names, so he wouldn't out his boyfriend's identity on their first mission together. 

"How many loops?" Adrien asked idly. 

"This is the fourth," Viperion replied. "The first time, I just waited out the loop to see if Ladybug would make it on time- and to watch the akuma. The other two went on traps that pinned you down, almost let the akuma get your ring."

Adrien swallowed. "Glad to have you here, then," he said glibly. 

"I'm pretty sure I've clocked all the traps," Viperion assured him. "Once the akuma gets here, I'm staying hidden- you go on comms. If I don't hear from you before I time out, I'm resetting."

"Got it," Adrien said with a nod. "You haven't been coming in?"

"I have- but I'm confident enough that this will be the last loop. I can talk you through what to do. If Hawkmoth doesn't find out there's a new hero on the scene- especially one with this power- we get to keep an ace up our sleeve."

At that point, the akuma loudly barged into the bakery. 

"Count to 30 before you open the door," Viperion ordered, tapping his ear to turn on their comms. 

Starting to count in his head, Adrien tapped his own comms online and hopped down to the sidewalk. 

He could hear noises inside the bakery, but held fast and trusted in Viperion. Trusted in Luka. 

"Now," Viperion called, just as Adrien finished counting down. 

Adrien vaulted across the street to the door of the bakery, swinging it open to see... nothing.

Not one item out of place. 

"The akuma is upstairs," Viperion said over the comms. "There's a trap as you lift the counter, so just jump it."

Adrien obliged, stepping cautiously towards the stairs. No time to question anything, like why Viperion didn't have him enter a window upstairs.

Carefully, Adrien started climbing the stairs. 

"Skip a step," Viperion said on comms. "The next one would trigger a trap."

Adrien did so, wondering how Viperion knew which step he was at if this was the first loop Adrien had come inside solo. 

"Yeah, I lied. This is loop 8- but based on how the last one ended, I know you'll be fine this time."

"We're talking about this later," Adrien muttered, reaching the top of the stairs. "I don't see it."

"Martin's room," Viperion answered. "Go slow with the trap door."

Adrien crept down the halls to the ladder, scanning his surroundings. It was spooky how perfectly normal everything looked- he hadn't even noticed any of the traps Viperion was mentioning.

Slowly, carefully, Adrien grabbed the ladder and started climbing to the trap door. 

"Go ahead, but slow."

Adrien placed his hands against the trap door, and slowly started putting pressure. It took a moment to reach the point that the door started to lift, but it did so quietly. 

The akuma was here. So was Martin, and both his parents. The akuma was petting Martin, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

In one swift move, not waiting for Viperion, Adrien leapt forward and grappled the akuma. 

The instant it was restrained, Martin bolted up onto his bed, and out to the balcony. His parents seemed frozen in shock. "Not to worry," Adrien grunted, "Ladybug'll be here soon."

"Any second," Viperion confirmed on comms.

Right on cue, a yo-yo smashed through the window and dented the akuma's shoe. 

Ladybug was impressed with Viperion. 

His first mission had been a total success, and Hawkmoth didn't even know they had a new hero. 

On top of that, he treated Chat Noir like a king- and the kitten deserved it. 

"I'm surprised Plagg suggested the snake for you," Ladybug admitted.

They'd met up to debrief on the usual rooftop. Not having used lucky charm, Tikki was right about the damage sticking around- as well as how little there had actually been. 

"Plagg didn't suggest it," Chat corrected. "When Tikki got here, she said we'd need the snake for this akuma."

"Really? It didn't seem that dangerous yet, did it?" Ladybug asked, dubious.

"Chat," Viperion said suddenly. "Would you mind giving us a minute?"

Ladybug shot Chat a look, but he seemed oblivious. "Sure, I guess. Call me when you're done?"

Viperion nodded, Chat vaulted away. 

"One of the loops," Viperion said after a moment. "Chat entered Martin's room, and saw Tikki trying to hide from the akuma. I slowed him down enough on the last loop that he didn't see, but- there's only so many explanations why she was there."

Ladybug swallowed. "I was... nearby."

"I figured. Look, I don't know 100% who you are, but I wanted to give you the heads up that I have a decent guess. Chat warned me how dangerous it would be for someone who knew both your identities to get akumatized, and it would be irresponsible to hide what I learned."

Ladybug nodded. "Thanks for being open about it," she said sincerly. "And for keeping it from Chat."

Viperion frowned. "I don't want to. And if you ask me, you should just tell each other who you are. But it's not my secret to share."

"Again, thanks."

"The part that frustrates me, is I can't even tell him I'm keeping a secret, or he'll know. So I'd much rather you just tell him, okay?"

"I understand," Ladybug admitted. Because she did. She had secrets to keep, too- both from Chat, and her friends and family. 

Viperion stood. "If you'll excuse me," he said impatiently, "I have a cat to drag in."

Adrien decided to wait for Luka on the Liberty. 

Juleka barely looked up when he got there. "Hi, Adrien."

"Can- Permission to come aboard?" 

"Duh." 

Adrien hadn't realized how sassy Juleka could be, when you really listened. "I mean, I know Luka's not here-" 

"He said he was meeting you," Juleka commented.

"Right," Adrien managed. "He, uh, sent me ahead." 

Juleka just nodded, and went back to her phone. 

Adrien glanced around awkwardly for a moment, settling down at the dining table. He felt Plagg leave his pocket, and prayed that Plagg would have enough sense to stay out of sight. 

It wasn't long after that, when Adrien got a text. 

*[unknown number]: I assume you're at my place.*

*[unknown number]: Tell Jules I'll be late to dinner.*

*[unknown number]: Meet me on the school roof.*

Adrien blinked. "Um, that was Luka," he announced to the room, turning to where Juleka still sat on the couch. "Change of plans- I'm heading out to meet with him. He said to tell you he'll be late for dinner."

"Sure, thanks for the heads up." 

"I- uh, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Adrien said, just a little louder than necessary. Where was Plagg? Damn kwami couldn't stay still for a second. 

Slowly as he reasonably could, Adrien got up and walked towards the stairs out. 

It wasn't until he was crossing the gangplank, that Plagg finally showed up. 

Adrien shot a glance back to the Liberty to make sure he was out of earshot.

"You couldn't come back any quicker?" Adrien hissed. "What happened?"

"Relax," Plagg insisted. "I knew I could catch up."

"You have to stop doing that!" Adrien whispered. "What if there had been an akuma? Or you couldn't find me?"

Plagg didn't answer. Adrien decided to drop it. "Listen, I need to transform. Luka asked me to meet him in costume."

"Yeah, yeah," Plagg said dismissively, as Adrien slipped into the now-familiar alley. "Just make sure there's cheese in it for me."

Adrien wasn't sure what to expect when he got to the school. Luka looking angry, was not on the list.

"Hey," he called cautiously, landing a good distance away. "What's up?"

Luka- Viperion, Adrien reminded himself- immediately relaxed. "I just- how do you do it?"

Adrien stepped forward, going in for a hug, but his brain was taking a step back. "Do what?"

"Secrets," Viperion explained. "Lies." 

They fell into a hug, Adrien supporting his boyfriend so they wouldn't fall. "It's hard," he admitted. "Especially with people you love."

"I tried being honest about how many loops we'd had, but you kept getting more worried. It kept you from focusing." 

"It's okay," Adrien whispered soothingly. "You're telling me now." 

Luka's breath hitched. "Twenty," he whispered back. 

"It's okay," Adrien repeated, holding Luka tight. "It's over."

"It's not."

Adrien paused. "What do you mean?" He asked. 

"I can't tell you," Luka said. Adrien started to feel tears along his neck, where Luka was burying his face. "I can't."

"It's okay," Adrien said again, trying not to think about why Luka might need to keep a secret. 

"Why were you upset when I brought up Ladybug?" Luka asked suddenly. 

Adrien fumbled for words. "I- I'd hoped you were Ladybug," he admitted. "I tried not to, but I did."

"Did you only love me because you thought I was her?" Luka asked- no, pleaded.

"Of course not," Adrien answered automatically. "Of course not," he repeated. 

"You loved her first," Luka pointed out. 

"Not as much as I love you."

"You thought I was her."

"Not until after I fell for you. I wouldn't let myself think it, since it wouldn't be fair to you."

"I thought you'd leave me."

"Never."

"Even if you knew who she was?"

"Even then."

Luka stopped, and Adrien waited. They stood like that for a while- melting into one another's embrace, clinging together quietly. 

"You figured out Ladybug's identity," Adrien guessed, breaking the silence.

"You did," Luka corrected. "You told me to reset because you saw Tikki."

"If I saw Tikki in Martin's place..."

"Exactly."

"You shouldn't have told me," Adrien pointed out. "It's dangerous for me to know."

"It's dangerous for me to know," Luka pointed out. "But I do."

Adrien sighed. "I know."

"You really still love me?"

"Do you know why I was hoping you were Ladybug?" 

Luka shook his head, and Adrien stifled a laugh. "You thought I'd see you do that?" he teased.

"You felt it," Luka observed quietly, amusement clear to Adrien in his tone. 

"Well, I wasn't hoping I'd secretly won Ladybug after all." Adrien explained. "I hadn't been able to share this with you, not fully- but if you were Ladybug, I already had."

"I don't know if I like sharing it," Luka commented. "Today was rough."

Adrien smiled, even though noone could see it. "But you did it, didn't you? You pulled it off, even though it was hard. And here I am to catch you."

"I love you," Luka whispered.

"I love you more," Adrien countered. 

"Now what?" Luka asked, changing the tone. 

Adrien pulled back just enough to make eye contact, still holding tight. "We tell them that we know," he suggested. "And none of us ever admit it to the guardian."

"I told her- him? Them. I told them that I figured it out."

Martin collapsed onto their bed, groaning. "He found out on day one, Tikki. This is a disaster."

Tikki just giggled- not helpful, Martin decided. "The snake always finds out eventually," she said softly. "I'm sorry it wasn't when you were ready."

"You told them we needed the snake," Martin pointed out. 

"We did," Tikki replied. "I knew Chat would only know one person you could both trust, even if you hadn't met yet. I also knew that person was best suited for Sass."

Martin blinked. "You know who Viperion is," they observed. "I mean, You've known Chat since Dark Owl- but he met Viperion after that. Or, fell for Viperion after that. So they must be close enough for you to have seen what was happening."

"I did tell you I wander off to track down Plagg sometimes, right?" Tikki asked nervously. 

"You're nervous," Martin said bluntly. "I'm close."

"No!" Tikki objected. "I mean, no. I'm just keeping you on track."

"Chat wanted me there for the interview. He would've wanted Viperion nearby, too, wouldn't he?"

"Martin, you're not supposed to-" 

"Viperion knows who I am! Master Fu's retiring me anyway. What does it matter?"

Martin groaned, rolling over to look away. "I'm going to lose you anyway," they muttered.

"Martin, I won't let that happen," Tikki insisted.

"How did Luka find out about the interview?" Martin asked suddenly. 

"Hm?" 

"Luka found out about Chat's interview. But it was kept top-secret- I didn't tell him, I know Nadja and Manon didn't."

"I'm sure he just overheard something," Tikki suggested. 

Martin narrowed his eyes. "Yeah," he agreed. "From Chat Noir."

"No?" Tikki asked unconvincingly. 

"Where else would he have heard, Tikki? Luka must be Viperion."

"Martin-" 

"I guess Chat hasn't come out as a civilian yet," Martin continued. "Since I didn't realize Luka was seeing anyone."

Martin's phone chimed.

*SPCA: Viperion told me.*

Martin stared. 

"What is it?" Tikki asked, concern clear in her voice.

"He told him," Martin said coldly. "Luka told Chat Noir."

"I'm sure it wasn't on purpose," Tikki observed. "Luka's not like that."

Martin's eyebrow shot up. "So you admit it's Luka?" 

Tikki froze. "Um- no?"

"Sure, Tikki. Luka isn't Viperion, and I'm a unicorn."

"Fine, it's Luka. But that just proves my point- Luka's not like that. And for the record, you knew before I slipped up. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to say it."

Martin sighed. "I'm just tired, Tikki. This is taking so much out of me- the secrets, the hiding, the worrying. To say nothing of the actual fighting."

"I'm tired, too," Tikki admitted. "I'm hoping that, with less people to hide things from, it'll get easier."

"What happened to knowledge being dangerous? To keeping secrets at all costs?"

"I can't believe that anymore," Tikki said simply. "Because if I did, I'd have to give you up- and I can't do that."

Martin couldn't help it- they cried. 

*Chat Noir: Viperion told me.*

*Bugaboo: I guess it's fair that I figured out Viperion, then.*

*Bugaboo: It won't be long before I notice who he's dating.*

Adrien read the texts out from his baton as they came in. 

"Do you want to tell them?" Luka asked. "At this point, it's the only secret left."

"Arguably, it's three secrets. I'm queer, we're dating, I'm a superhero."

"And yet," Luka observed, "You only have to tell them one for them to know everything."

Adrien wasn't ready to tell them.

Then again, he hadn't felt ready to know Ladybug's identity- but he did.

"Do you think we should get off this roof before Alya makes a post on her blog?" Adrien asked, trying to change the subject. "They're gonna reopen the school soon."

"You haven't answered the question," Luka objected. "Do you want to tell them?"

"No," Adrien decided. "But I want them to know."

"The school's open for the rest of the day," Tikki chirped, reading off the school website on Martin's phone.

Martin yawned, rolling over in bed. "Too tired. Not going."

"Alya texted that she's already there- and so is Adrien."

"Adrien's old news," Martin groaned. "I'm not ready for a relationship until I figure out my gender stuff."

"I know," Tikki chirped happily. "That's not why Alya mentioned him."

"What did she say?"

"Adrien came out to the class as demisexual."

"That's nice," Martin mumbled. "Good for him."

"Apparently, he's dating Luka."

"Huh."

"Yup!"

"So we were..."

"Yup. Plagg thought it was funny. I kept telling him off for it."

"I should tell him I know."

"I think he did this so that you would."

"Why?"

"Well, Alya texted again. After Adrien came out, he asked her to text you about it so you'd be in the loop. Then, he went home for the day."

"Huh."

Three humans and three kwami sat around, looking at one another.

"So," Luka said, breaking the silence. "No more secrets, I guess."

Saturday had come, and they were in Luka's room aboard the Liberty. 

Anarka had left to run several errands, and Juleka- having been asked to clear the boat- was with her.

"Actually," Adrien corrected. "Rena and Carapace."

"I could call them and have them join us," Martin offered. "Make it a real team meeting."

"We need Chloé, too, then," Adrien pointed out. 

"Have either of you had the chance to talk to her yet?" Luka wondered.

Adrien and Martin both shook their heads.

"She'll come running if Ladybug's the one to invite her," Adrien pointed out, looking to Martin. 

Martin smirked. "What happens when I transform back?" 

"I don't know," Luka replied, "You should wait until we can all see her face, first."

"Can we not?" Adrien asked, trying to suppress a laugh. "This feels mean." 

"I'll go get her," Martin offered, getting up. "Come on, Tikki. Let's find somewhere to transform."

"Alley across the street," Adrien suggested. "I've used it like 3 times, seems like it's pretty reliable."

"I'll text Rena and Carapace on the way. See you both soon," Martin said as farewell, ducking out the doorway. 

"Plagg," Luka called, holding eye contact with Adrien. "Why don't you check out the cheese I bought? It's in the fridge."

"Sass," Adrien called in turn. "Would you please make sure he doesn't come back for, say, 5 minutes?"

"I know what you're doing," Plagg complained indignantly. "You could have just asked for privacy."

"Plagg, you can complain later," Sass said patiently. "Why don't we go see what kind of cheese it is?"

"It better be camembert," Plagg retorted as they left the room.

"So," Adrien said, still looking at Luka.

"So," Luka returned.

Martin was hardly surprised to see both Luka and Adrien looking noticably more disheveled when they returned, Chloé in tow. 

Chloé didn't seem to notice, not having seen them earlier for comparison. "Why did Ladybug tell me to come with you?" Chloé asked spitefully as she sat down, claiming Juleka's bed without asking. "What's this about?"

"We have two more coming," Martin said in reply, "I'm waiting for them before I explain anything."

"I got a text from Juleka," Luka announced. "It was a little while ago, but basically, our last two guests should be arriving shortly."

Martin smirked when Adrien turned to Luka. "You know who they are," Adrien said. "And so do I, if Juleka knows them too."

"Patience, Adrien," Martin admonished. "You'll spoil the surprise."

"Hello?"

"Like I said," Martin shouted out the door, "let yourselves aboard! we're in Luka's room!"

Martin trained their eyes on Adrien when Alya and Nino walked in- and was a little disappointed he wasn't more surprised. Nothing more than a brief "Oh." 

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've gathered you here today," Adrien said to the group.

"You didn't gather me," Chloé argued. "Ladybug did."

"Ladybug?" Alya asked. "Ladybug asked you here."

"She told me she needed me to do a favour, and that she'd return my miraculous once I did."

Martin didn't miss the looks Adrien and Luka shot them. "Settle down, team," they ordered.

...and they did. The team settled down, called to order by their leader, even without knowing that's what they were doing.

Martin couldn't help but smile. 

"Chloé, Ladybug will be joining us shortly. Alya, this is off the record. Nino- thanks for coming. Luka- please wait to be called on. Adrien- time for a demonstration."

Adrien gave Martin a nod, and on a silent count of three they both transformed.

"Tikki, spots on."

"Plagg, claws out!"

Ladybug paused, looking around the group. "So," she said quietly. "I'm agender. As Ladybug, I use she/her pronouns- otherwise, they/them."

Alya's mouth was open.

Nino looked lost in thought.

And Chloé looked distraught. 

"Cis guy," Adrien chimed in. "Demisexual, not bi- lied to the press a little. he/him."

Ladybug nodded her approval, giving everything a moment to sink in. "You're all familiar with Queen Bee," she acknowledged, indicating Chloé. "Alya, would you mind going next?"

"Um. I can't transform right now- no miraculous- but I'm Rena Rouge. Uh, she/her."

"Nino?"

"Carapace," he said blankly, staring at Adrien. "He/him."

"We have a new teammate," Ladybug announced. "We're keeping this one a secret from Hawmkoth- and by extension, the public. The snake miraculous has the power of Second Chance, which grants unlimited do-overs of the 5 minutes between activating the power and timing out- as long as you call on it before you completely time out."

"Viperion," Luka introduced himself. "Pleased to be part of the team. He/him for me."

"Welcome," Ladybug declared, "to the first team meeting."

"I think we broke Chloé," Alya observed. "And Nino."

Chloé still hadn't said anything, and had gone from a furious glare to a contemplative dissociation. 

Nino was looking curiously between Adrien and Luka.

"Not broken," he corrected. "Processing."

"Five minute snack break?" Adrien suggested. 

"Help yourselves to the fridge," Luka chimed in. 

"Did he find out because of the do-overs?" Nino asked in a whisper. "He obviously already knew."

"Nope," Adrien answered cheerily. "I told him before he was Viperion."

"Were you ever gonna tell me?"

Oh- Nino was hurt. "Of course I was, Nino. I- I just did, didn't I? I just- It was easier to be patient about telling you, because I knew you'd understand. But with Luka- I really wanted him to like me, to ask him out, and I knew that couldn't happen if he didn't know, because secrets hurt and-"

"I just feel a little blindsided, I guess. First, I didn't notice you had a boyfriend. Then, I didn't notice you were Chat Noir."

"Technically those happened the other way round," Adrien corrected. "And I've been Chat Noir since before we met- by about a day or two- so I don't see how you could've known."

"I know," Nino admitted. "It's just hard to wrap my head around, you know? You're my best bud, and I feel like I barely knew you."

"You know me better than anyone," Adrien corrected. "Hanging with you is the closest I get to feeling like Chat Noir without transforming."

Nino shot Adrien a confused look. 

"I- Chat Noir is who I am when I'm revelling in my freedom. Maybe a little exaggerated, but a lot more accurate than Adrien Agreste. Up until Luka- which, by the way, was only official for less than a day before you found out- I only felt that free either wearing the mask, or by your side."

Alya dragged Martin aside. 

"The whole time?" she asked accusingly. 

Martin nodded. "I tried to give up, after we messed up with Stoneheart. Slip the earrings in your bag. You ran off without it, and I had to use them to save you."

"The whole time."

"Yeah."

"I tore myself up about whether or not to tell you I was Rena Rouge. And you knew, because you were the one who chose me."

Martin shrugged. "You decided not to tell me," they observed. "I made the same call with you."

"I figured out Nino, how come I didn't figure out you?"

"Alya, I became Ladybug about 15 minutes after we met. By the time we were close enough for you to notice, I had practice hiding it. You were already close to Nino before I chose him."

"I didn't even question why Ladybug would recruit the Ladyblogger."

"Magic?" Martin suggested. "I swear, I should've been figured out a thousand times by now."

Chloé glared at Luka.

"Can I help you?" he asked, trying to be polite. 

"He told you," she grumbled. "He told you, but he never told me."

"To be fair, I am his boyfriend."

"Like Adrikins would let that happen before he came clean."

"Chloé, I don't know what to tell you. I'm honestly impressed with Adrien for still believing in you. It was his idea for you to be here for this.

"Really? It wasn't some setup by Dupain-Cheng?"

"Ladybug believes in you too, Chloé. It's just harder for Ladybug than Adrien, with how you treat Martin all the time."

"Whatever."

Luka saw right through the dismissal- Chloé was a lot more at ease than she had been.

Tikki, Plagg, and Sass, didn't need to say anything.

They knew they were on the same page. 

Whichever of them saw Master Fu next, they would make sure their holder left with Pollen, Wayzz, and Trixx. 

The whole team had to be together, properly. No guardians in their way.

"So," Martin said, calling the meeting to order. "Our first point of discussion is Queen Bee's permanent retirement."

Chloé gasped.

"No, not- Sorry." Martin paused, finding the words. "Chloé isn't retiring, but the world needs to think she is," they corrected. "Hawkmoth needs to believe it."

Chloé scoffed. "Why should I give up being the only publicly known superhero?"

"Hawkmoth targeted your family," Adrien said seriously. "If he knows you're still with us, he'll do it again. So either you fake your retirement, or you actually retire."

"Fine," Chloé relented. "How do we do this?"

"There's two ways," Tikki piped up. "Either you use a different miraculous-"

"Never. Pollen and I are bonded."

"-or you do it the hard way. Reinvent your hero persona conciously, which can be extraordinarily difficult to pull off."

"I can do that," Chloé said dismissively. "How hard can it be?" 

"Well," Martin stepped in, "Once you pull it off, the new bee hero will make an announcement about how unfortunately, Chloé had to retire after her family was targeted. How she wishes she hadn't needed to replace Queen Bee, but will do her best to fill her shoes."

"New Bee?" Chloé asked suspciously.

"You, Chloé," Alya said impatiently. "They're talking about you, in your new persona."

"Right. I knew that."

Martin rolled their eyes slightly. "Second point. Full-time status."

Alya gasped. 

"Yeah, I know. It's exciting. Has to come with rules- it would be dangerous for Hawkmoth to know you have your miraculous full-time, so you can't just show up any time there's an akuma."

"When do we transform, then?"

Martin looked to Adrien, who stepped in. "We'll hammer out details later. For now, wait until we find you. Most of you need to do that anyway, until we can get your miraculous from- uh, storage."

"Item three," Martin declared. "Storage. Adrien, let's- no secrets." Adrien nodded, so Martin continued. "The miraculous are protected by the guardian. His name is Master Fu- he chose Adrien and I. He's from an ancient order of guardians, and knows a lot about the miraculous."

"Item four," Adrien offered, a request to take the stage. Martin nodded.

"I think we should have a shortlist of people we all trust, so if any of us need to call on someone new to join us we're all in agreement."

"We can't waste time looking around Paris for a specific person," Luka pointed out. "It would have to be whoever makes the most sense out of who's on the list, with the possibility of going off-book if it's necessary."

"No going off-book unless it is necessary," Martin added. "But yeah. That makes sense. Any suggestions to start the list with?"

"Kagami," Chloé said quietly.

Adrien nodded. "We've all at least met her, and I agree she's a good fit. Experienced with swordplay, too."

"I should point out," Tikki piped up, "That Kagami's best match of miraculous would be the dragon."

"Thanks, Teeks," Martin said. "Anyone have another name?"

"Juleka," Luka proposed. "She has what it takes, trust me."

After a round of nods, Martin looked to Tikki. "Thoughts?"

"The tiger," Tikki said decisively. 

"I think two is good for now," Nino said, finally joining in. "I feel like we should address the fact that most akumas happen in or around our school. I thought we were just unlucky, but- what if Hawkmoth suspects Ladybug and Chat Noir are students?"

"I actually wanted to suggest I join Luka on the stealth team. Cover people's tracks with illusions, and stuff- we could throw out some misdirects so it looks like none of us are on the team. Illusions of each of us finding cover, visible at the same time as our real selves in costume. Stuff like that."

The group offered a round of agreements, even the kwamis thankful their holders would be safe from suspicion. 

"Speaking of covering for each other," Adrien added. "excuses and alibis?" 

"I get stress headaches whenever I find out there's an akuma," Martin said. "Or so Mme Bustier thinks. I have a free pass to go to the nurse, even if they're across town. I could probably get away with one person joining me." 

"You guys need someone in the class who can help with distractions and excuses, and won't need to follow you to transform." Luka suggested. "We already talked about Juleka, unless you have anyone else in mind."

"If anyone's getting benched to work the sidelines, it should be the rabbit," Plagg chimed in. "What's her name- Tikki, help me out here."

"Alix," Tikki provided. "You're thinking of Alix."

"You called her a rabbit," Martin observed. "Time travel," they added, for everyone else's benefit.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised," Nino commented. "I second the motion."

"Wait, are we being formal about things suddenly?" Adrien asked. "Um, I third the motion."

Luka rolled his eyes. "Any objection to bringing Alix in?" He asked. "I've met them a couple times, and they seem cool."

Martin hestitated- partly to allow for time for anyone who had something to add, partly making a mental note of the pronouns Luka had used. "The motion carries," Martin declared. "Who wants to tell them?"

6 hands shot up.