Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Are you sure, girl?” Alya sat on her best friend's bed and swung her legs off the side as she watched Marinette pace below her.

“Yes?” Marinette bit her lip, “I mean, I think so. I don’t want him going through it alone either. The longer we have to live a double life the harder it gets. You saw how I was falling apart at the seams. I think I may have literally lost it if I kept my secret from you a second longer.”

“I know, and I think you made the right decision. But you aren’t just Ladybug anymore. You are also the Guardian, and that came with its own mountain of weight on top of everything else you do. Girl, no wonder you are always late, you have about seven balls in the air and ten pies in the oven while trying to live your life in between all of it.”

Marinette rolled her eyes dramatically and sighed, but Alya saw the smile.

“Look, I just.. Sometimes I worry about Chat Noir. He doesn’t really talk about his personal life- admittedly that's my fault - but whenever he does let something slip, it usually isn’t something happy. I have a feeling he is more depressed than he lets on. Having someone he can confide in may help. I know it helped me.”

Alya nodded slowly, “You know, that is what makes you such a great Guardian.”

“What do you mean?” Marinette blushed.

“You care about the Miraculous Holders themselves too.”

“I just hope that I’m doing a good enough job.” She paused her pacing and turned towards the window, “I really am worried about him.”

Alya decided this conversation was getting too angsty. Marinette already decided on a course of action and dwelling on it more wouldn’t help anyone. She knew how to change this heavy mood. She narrowed her eyes and let a sly smile slowly creep across her lips, “Hmmmm. Is someone starting to catch feelings for the cat in skintight leather?” She did her best not to laugh at the outrage. Marinette was so predictable.

“What? Are you serious right now Alya? He is my trusted partner!”

Alya just shrugged, deciding that pointing out Marinette was awful defensive about the accusation wasn’t necessary. She had successfully pulled her friend from spiraling and that’s what her goal had been. But it didn’t escape her notice that Marinette didn’t contradict her and she wouldn’t forget that interesting little detail either.

Alya pawed through her bag as she walked up the stairs to her university. Where was her phone? She knew she threw it in here this morning. She shook the bag and stuck her hand back inside. Finally! Her hand closed around the familiar shape and she pulled it out. As she did, she didn’t quite lift her foot high enough on the last step. Her toe hit the edge of the stair and propelled her body ahead of her legs. Oh, this is gonna hurt, she thought as she flailed her arms. Suddenly, a strong arm caught her before her face got friendly with the concrete. She turned, expecting her savior to be Nino, and she was ready to kiss him for saving her face, but she reeled back when she saw Adrien instead.

“About to pull a Marinette, huh?” He asked with an easy smile.

“Ha! If I were pulling a Marinette, I would have spilled my bag too, and still somehow manage to look adorable,” Alya replied, hoping she put enough emphasis on Marinette and her adorableness.

“Yeah, hey, I’m glad I ran into you. I was hoping I could talk to you before class starts. Do you have a second?”

“Sure!” Alya silently prayed she would finally get to play matchmaker. She had so many ideas and ways Adrien could confess his love to Marinette and… Adrien pulled her behind the gym lockers, peered behind into the locker bay over, and then double checked that no one had followed them. Geez, this boy was paranoid. If he thought he could covertly date Marinette, he was sadly mistaken. Everyone already knew all about Marinette’s worst kept secret and it would probably take minutes for the whole university to put two and two together.

“Listen, I know you are Rena Rouge.”

“What?” This was so not the way she imagined this conversation going.

“Yeah, um, sorry. I don’t really know how to tell you this, but honestly, it just feels so good to talk to someone, and I know you are a journalist, but I also know I can trust you and talk to you, and Nino told me you are really good with secrets and...”

“Whoa there boy, I don’t need the novel. Just tell me.”

“Right,” He took a deep breath and held out his hand, “First, promise you will tell NO ONE what I am about to tell you.”

“Of course!” Alya shook his offered hand and silently excluded Marinette from the “no one” part.

“And you are okay carrying a secret for me? This one might be kind of a shock.”

“Please.” Alya rolled her eyes. “Like Nino said, I am good with secrets. Trust me.” If only you knew, boy.

“I do,” the honesty in his eyes was almost enough to make her melt. She wouldn’t let Marinette give her heart to just anyone and this one… Well, they were made for each other.

“Alya, I… I am Chat Noir.”

Oh no

Oh no no no no

Her brain was completely empty.

No, that wasn’t true. She had way too many thoughts. Way to many thoughts and her brain making connections and seeing things she couldn’t before because she didn’t have all the information. All the random puzzle pieces she didn’t realize she had been tracking fit together in a neat picture.

“Of course you are Chat Noir,” She groaned. Why did her life have to be so complicated?

“You…. Knew?” He was taken aback.

“No, it just all makes sense now.” She frowned at him, “Why tell me?”

He seemed at a total loss for a second. She supposed she could have acted more surprised, but this was quickly becoming a normal part of her life. He shook his head as if refocusing,

“Ladybug said that having a ‘trusted other’ may help with the pressure. You are one of the only people I know well enough to trust, you know?” He shrugged.

“But… why not tell Nino?”

“Well, Nino is my best friend… kinda my only friend, and I… I don’t want to rock that boat.”

Oh right

“Besides,” He smiled sheepishly, “If I told Nino, I would basically be telling you too and Ladybug only gave me the one pass.”

“Are you saying I’m better at lying to my lover than Nino?” Alya narrowed her eyes. This was still a sensitive topic for her.

Adrien's face turned red at her label for Nino, “What? No! Of course not! You are just… better at compartmentalizing?”

“Hmmm.. good answer, and it’s not Rena Rouge anymore. It’s Rena Furtive, Ladybug is having me run in the background right now since Shadow Moth knows that Ladybug gives me the fox. We want to give him the impression that she won’t give it to me anymore.” She said the words automatically as her mind worked. She kept Ladybug’s secret from Nino, but that wasn’t her secret to tell, it wasn’t lying. Keeping Chat Noir’s secret would have to be the same. Besides, when this was all over, she would tell Nino everything. Alya hesitated, then decided to take the leap, “You are closer to Marinette than me, why not tell her?” She studied him closely, watching every clue his face and body language could give her.

“I’d like to think we are close, but… I don’t think she really likes me. I mean, obviously she is too nice to come out and say it, but she acts differently around me than all her friends. Besides, she already has so much going on, between freelancing for freaking Jagged Stone and her design career and everything she does with the band, not to mention all her classes… I wouldn’t want to add any more stress to her life.”

Alya wanted to facepalm but resisted the urge. “Okay. I will protect your secret and whatever.” She paused, wondering how to phrase the next part without betraying her friend but help prod along their relationship. She had to be delicate. “ Marinette can be… Awkward with new friends. Most of the friends she has she has had her whole life, you know? She thinks you are super cool and I think she puts a lot of pressure on herself to seem cool to you. Give her time to warm up to the fact that you are her friend and she will be the best one you’ve ever had.” Sorry Nino, but if this ends the way I hope it does, it will be the truth, she added silently.

“But you met Marinette around the same time I did and you guys are super close.”

“Having near death experiences together have that effect on relationships. Hmm.. that's an idea…”

“Wait, what?”

“Never mind. Anyways, it’s different with girl friendships than guy-girl friendships,” Alya decided it was time to change the subject before she got herself in hot water, “Are you going to tell Ladybug that you told me?”

“No,” He sighed, “She doesn’t think that would be a good idea. If we know who the other person told, we could narrow down who they are.”

“Is it really that big of a deal? If you know?”

“Ladybug thinks so.”

“But you don’t.” It wasn’t a question, everything about his dejected stance told her what he thought.

He sighed and sat heavily on the bench in the center of the locker bay, “I understand why she thinks that. But I don’t think that even if I got akumatized I would betray her. I don’t think I could.”

Alya studied him for a moment. She knew that Chat Noir was infatuated with Ladybug. All of Paris knew that. She had heard his attempts to flirt with Ladybug and watched Ladybug take it with a smile and an eye roll. She had followed Ladybug’s lead, brushing aside the banter. She thought it was all talk. But now, she was starting to doubt that. She thought through every time Chat Noir had sacrificed himself for Ladybug and realized it was much more than Chat Noir making a tactical decision. It wasn’t just about Ladybug having the power to reset everything that made him throw himself in front of the bullets aimed at her. He would do that anyway. And he would do it over and over. He did do it over and over. She felt the pressure behind her eyes and she swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.

“Are you crying?” Adrien was aghast.

“What? No way!” She swiped at her eyes to make sure and realized betrayer tears had slipped through. Shoot. “Look, it’s just that, well, obviously Ladybug means a lot to me. I’ve been obsessed with her for as long as I knew she existed.” And she’s my best friend, she added silently, “And knowing how much you care just, I don't know. Made me feel things I guess.” She wiped away the evidence of her sudden emotion. “UUGGHH”

Adrien jumped at her outburst. “Thanks…?”

“It’s just frustrating, you know? Like, everyone can see that you guys are made for each other. And she does love you too, she just doesn’t realize she loves you the same way you love her. Yet.” Alya started pacing as Adrien just stared at her with his mouth hanging open. She stopped and turned towards him, putting her hands on her hips, “Well, it’s time we show her.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do?” Then he frowned, “Are you sure she feels that way? We‘ve talked about it several times and I’m sure it’s one-sided on my part. She is too important for me to keep pushing her boundaries. It’s not right. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or lose the friendship we do have.” 

“Oh she does feel that way, trust me on this. I know Ladybug better than anyone.”

“I'm pretty sure I know her the best,” Adrien started to argue.

“AN-Y-ONE,” Alya emphasized each syllable, “But you're right, you aren’t going to win Ladybug through romantic gestures. Nothing like that. It wouldn’t work because she is pretty one-track-minded. She’s gotta figure it out on her own. We can just… guide her in the right direction.”

“Wait, but what about the other guy?”

“What other guy?”

“I thought you knew more about Ladybug than ‘AN-Y-ONE’.”

She frowned at him.

“Fine. She told me there couldn’t be anything between us because she loves someone else.”

“Oh. Don’t worry about him.”

“Don’t worry about him? I think he plays a pretty big role in this.”

“Trust me. It won’t matter.”

“Ladybug isn’t as fickle as you seem to think. She’s been in love with this guy since the beginning. It’s been years. They are probably together at this point anyway.”

“They aren’t”

“How would you know?”

“I just do.”

He stared at her in silence for a couple heartbeats. A question flickered in his eyes, but he took so long to say anything that Alya wondered if she just imagined it.

“Do you know why they aren’t together?” He finally asked hesitantly.

“He hasn’t noticed her attempts to tell him how she feels.”

“What? How could he not notice her? She is incredible! He must be the most oblivious guy on the planet.”

“He is,” She agreed with that sentiment whole heartedly. She side eyed him. He didn’t notice. Most oblivious guy on the planet indeed, Alya rolled her eyes.

“Well, even if he is dumb enough not to notice her, if she has been in love with him this long, I don’t think anything could change that. She knows how I feel and that hasn’t changed anything.”

“THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! Just trust me! It will all work itself out.”

He gave her a look that told her he wasn’t buying it. She supposed she wouldn’t either if the roles were reversed.

“Just leave that part to me and don’t worry about it. I promise, it will work out. What YOU need to worry about is how to defeat Shadow Moth. Or at least discover his identity.”

“Oh really? Thanks for the advice! I never would have thought of that! It’s not like that’s what we have been trying to do THIS ENTIRE TIME!” He put his head in his hands

Okay, so she may have stepped on a few nerves. She backpedaled.

She sat next to him and placed her hand on his back. “Look Adrien, I’m sorry. I know that this isn’t easy for you. You have your heart on your sleeve all the time and so far you have only gotten rejected. But I have a perspective you don’t and it will be okay. You and Ladybug are just meant to be and I won’t rest until that happens. And I’m sorry for insinuating you haven’t been trying to defeat Shadow Moth. I know you guys work really hard and Shadow Moth really stacks the field against you. But you have something you didn’t before. A friend in your corner who won’t rest until she finds the truth.”

He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She smiled with all the confidence she could. He relaxed under her hand. “Thanks Alya, I didn’t mean to yell at you. You're a good friend and I appreciate you being so cool about this whole thing.”

“That's what ‘trusted others’ are for!” She used the title he gave her with a bright smile, “Well, I gotta get going. Marinette is probably going to be late but I still like to wait for her at the front just in case. Sometimes she needs a little extra help walking up the stairs,” She said with a laugh.

“Can I come with you? Nino and I usually hang out before our classes but he has a dentist appointment and won’t be here till later.”

“Sure! Maybe you can rescue Marinette's face this time.”

Alya glanced over Adrien’s shoulder and saw her friend stumble as she ran towards the front of their university. A paper flew from the stack of sheets she held against her chest and she skidded to a stop to snatch it out the air and overcompensated. Her arms flailed out as she tried to regain her balance and everything went everywhere. Alya sighed. Maybe she should have worded her discreetly sent text a little differently. The goal had been to make Marinette arrive on time, but Marinette in a rush never ended well.

“Looks like we may need to help our friend,” Alya said as she guided Adrien towards Marinette’s accident site. She shook her head. How could Marinette be the optimum of grace as Ladybug and trip over air out of the mask? They helped her gather her things, Marinette turning a shade pinker with each second.

“Thanks,” She sighed as she gratefully accepted their assistance.

“Whoa, what is this?” Adrien handed Marinette a sheet with some roughly drawn designs on it.

“Oh, um, that’s just my next album cover idea for Jagged,” She flushed even more, “It’s a work in progress…” She gestured to the erase marks and pencil smudges, “I’ve got a ways to go before it’s ready,” Her sentence ended with a nervous laugh.

“That’s so cool, Marinette!”

“Yeah, all of Marinette’s skill points were placed in creativity and intelligence,” Alya brushed the dirt from her friend's knees, “There wasn’t anything left for walking on flat spaces.”

“Hey!” Marinette said in mock outrage, “I am a great walker!” Her sentence was punctuated with her tripping over nothing. Adrien caught her under her arm and helped her regain her balance. “You just happen to always be around at the very infrequent times when I’m not.” She finished with chagrin.

“Whatever you say, Ladybug,” Alya teased.

“I bet even Ladybug falls on her face sometimes,” Marinette retorted with a blush.

“Sure she does.” Alya turned to Adrien, who was smiling at their banter, but not participating. “Come on, “She grabbed them both by the elbows and dragged them with her, “We have 30 minutes before our first class and I have an article to write for the ‘LadyBlog’. You guys are going to help me.”

“There hasn’t been an akuma since your last article,” Marinette stumbled next to her, “What is the article going to be about?”

Alya led them to a table and pushed them towards one side as she took the other. After the awkward dance of them situating themselves next to each other, Alya pulled out her tablet.

“I’ve done lots of articles about how amazing Ladybug is. I think people need to hear some more about Chat Noir.” At their surprised silences, Alya continued, “I think Chat Noir is a bit unsung and I want to give him some of the love he deserves.”

“Didn’t you just do one about him?” Adrien frowned

“True, but that one was just surface stuff. I want to really dig into what makes Chat Noir a great hero. I’ve already done a bunch of those kinds of articles for Ladybug and everyone already knows that she is pretty epic. Most people don’t recognize how awesome the other half of the duo is.”

“Well, I mean, that’s kinda expected. Chat Noir is kinda the sidekick, right? Ladybug is the real hero.” Adrien shrugged.

“What?!” Marinette slowly turned a disbelieving stare on Adrien, all awkwardness gone as she defended her partner. Alya smiled smugly to herself. “Ladybug wouldn’t be anything without Chat Noir. They are a team! Without him, she would have been taken out by Shadow Moth ages ago. Do you have any idea how many times he has literally sacrificed himself for her? How many times would she have lost if he hadn’t been there to save her? Sure, Ladybug might be the one with the power to restore Paris, but she couldn’t do that if Chat Noir wasn’t there, saving her every step of the way!”

Adrien sat in stunned silence for a second, and Alya felt like she could watch the emotions go through his mind as he experienced them. Shock first, that Marinette was able to look at him and speak a coherent sentence, then anxiety as he realized she was actually offended by his comment, and lastly, pleasure as he realized Marinette’s spirited reprimand was to defend him.

“Sorry,” Marinette's eyes grew wide as she realized she yelled at Adrien and she looked down, “I just get a little upset when people belittle Chat Noir. I didn't mean to snap at you.”

“No, that’s okay. It’s cool you feel that way. Chat Noir is pretty cool.”

“Anyways, I am writing “The Top Ten Most Heroic Chat Noir Moments” Alya wiggled her eyebrows, “Let’s hear your favorites.”

“What was that about?” Adrien matched her pace as they walked outside to eat lunch. Marinette had offered to run to the bakery and grab something for the group. They were going to meet up with Nino, Rose, and Juleka at the park picnic tables across the street.

“What was what about?” Alya asked innocently.

He frowned as he stepped ahead of her and turned around, walking backwards so he could face her, “All that stuff about Chat Noir. You aren’t really writing an article about that.”

“I’m not?” She opened her phone and pulled up her blog. She turned the phone towards him so he could see the most recent post, “Sure looks like I did. I must be imagining that I wrote and published this amazing article during Biochem today. Hmm. How odd.”

“Oh.” He lost his rhythm and stumbled. He turned back around and walked next to her again, “I don’t get it. Why did you write that?”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. It just feels… All that stuff you wrote is true, it did happen, but you are making it seem more impressive than it really was.”

Alya stopped suddenly and pulled his arm, forcing him to swing around and face her, “Adrien, Chat Noir is,” She paused, glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot, “YOU are a hero. And you do a lot of cool stuff, a lot of selfless stuff, and you deserve to have people see that. I see it. Marinette sees it.” She frowned at him, “Why can’t you?”

He turned away and started walking again, rubbing the back of his neck. She stepped up next to him. “Thanks Alya.” He finally said quietly. 

Geez. Who had absolutely destroyed this boy’s self esteem?

“Let me know whenever you need a different perspective,” She replied easily. “Or ask Marinette. I bet she could have gone on for another hour if I didn’t stop her.”

Adrien looked puzzled, “Yeah, that was weird. I knew she had a crush on Chat Noir a while ago, and I guess I knew she would get over it, but the things she said and the way she said them didn’t feel like a girl talking about her crush. It was.. I don’t know, more real than that I guess.”

“Wait, full stop. Did you say Marinette had a crush on Chat Noir?”

“She didn’t tell you? Yeah, I caught her following me and Ladybug and she admitted she was in love with me. It was awkward and her dad got akumatized, but it all worked out and we ended as friends.”

“You were the reason her dad got akumatized?”

“I mean, indirectly, I guess. I can’t believe she didn’t tell you. I thought that’s what girls talked about..”

“We do!” Alya tried to think about the series of events that would lead to that conclusion. She would have to pry that from Marinette. “Can I hear your side of the story?”

Two days later, Alya was sprawled across Marinette’s bed. Her head hung off the edge and from her upside down angle, she watched her friend work on the last few details on her latest costumes for “Kitty Section”.

“What if Chat Noir told you who he was?”

“He wouldn’t. He knows why we can’t”

“No, I mean, like when you told him he could tell someone his secret, what if he, as a civilian, told Marinette? What would you do?”

“Why would he tell me as Marinette?”

“Because he trusted you.”

“He can’t trust me. He doesn’t know me.”

“What if you do know him and he told you?

“I don’t know. But there is no way I know him.”

“How do you know?”

Marinette rolled her eyes as she adjusted the fabric and started the sewing machine again, “I would know my kitty anywhere. I recognized him when he was wearing a freaking banana costume. I know that cat better than anyone. Trust me, I don’t know him as a civilian.”

Your kitty, huh? Alya smiled to herself but let the subject drop. “Hey, isn’t it time for your patrol?” She asked after Marinette stopped her sewing machine and studied her handiwork.

“Hmm?”

Alya flipped off the bed and landed with surprising ease on the floor. She smiled in spite of herself. Running around as a hero had its perks. Perks Marinette didn’t seem to share.

“I think you are late for your date with Chat Noir.”

“What?” Marinette pulled out her phone to look at the time and groaned, “Not again! That’s the third time this week. I don’t think I can handle another pun about- Hey! It’s not a date!” She aimed a glare at her friend as the pink-red sparkles turned her into Ladybug.

“Before patrol, can Rena Furtive meet with you guys for like, a half hour?”

“What? Why?”

Alya shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about the Shadow Moth problem, and I think I have a simple solution. Well, part of a solution.”

“Oh?” Ladybug raised an eyebrow, “Do I get a sneak peak at this idea?”

“Nope!” Alya tickled Trixx in the tummy before letting herself transform.

“Wait! I thought we agreed not to let Chat Noir know you were still active? No one should know.”

“If my idea works, I won’t need to be Rena Furtive anymore. And if the plan falls through, we can make a show of me giving the miraculous back to you for good.”

“Okay. But other people still shouldn’t see Rena, just in case.”

“Of course.”

“Alright, then let's go!” Ladybug popped her skylight open and leaped out. Rena Furtive followed and Ladybug closed the door behind her.

“Do I get to see your super secret meet up spot?”

“Only if you promise not to abuse that information.”

“What? I would never!”

“Uh huh. Come on, this way.”

They leaped over the rooftops before coming to a stop on a tall building across from the Eiffel Tower.

“About time My Lady. I was beginning to think -oh, hey Rena Rouge.”

“Hey Chat Noir. It’s Rena Furtive now.” Alya was impressed with the way he acted like he didn’t already have this conversation.

“I didn’t realize you were doing patrols now,” His cat eyes narrowed and she heard his unvoiced question. Why are you intruding on my time with Ladybug?

“She’s not here for patrol, Kitty,” Ladybug answered, touching his arm gently,” She said she wanted to meet up with us to talk about an idea to defeat Shadow Moth. She can’t patrol with us because, technically, she shouldn’t have a miraculous anymore”

“Oh,” Chat Noir swung his baton behind his neck and rested his arms on either side. “Planning session before patrol? Sounds good to me. It’s been pretty quiet around here.”

“Alright, Rena. what’s your plan?” Ladybug sat down and crossed her legs in front of her. Rena Furtive and Chat Noir followed her example, Chat sitting so his knee was brushing Ladybug’s.

“Okay. It’s not really a plan to defeat Shadow Moth. Not yet. It’s a plan to help us learn who he is. Once we know who he is, we will be able to make a plan to end his reign of terror.” Rena Furtive glanced at her friends.

“Okay… and how do we do that?” Chat Noir asked impatiently. Ladybug shot him a look and he shrugged.

“Well, I was thinking about his abilities. If he was using his powers correctly, a white butterfly would go to whoever and give them powers, right? That’s how his Miraculous is supposed to work?”

“I’m not actually sure. But that sounds right.” 

Chat Noir just shrugged again, “What does that have to do with his identity?”

“Either way, his abilities have to do with using the butterflies, but obviously, it’s not just any butterfly, it’s special magical butterflies, maybe butterflies his Miraculous created?”

“That makes sense, but I still don’t get how that helps us.”

“I don’t think he gets an unlimited amount of butterflies and the butterflies don’t disappear after you do the Miraculous Ladybug thing. So I think the butterflies go back to where they came from.”

Ladybug and Chat Noir shifted forward at the exact same time. Rena couldn’t help but notice, then appreciate how in sync they were.

“Alright, I see where you are going with this,” Ladybug paused and tapped her chin lightly, “I kind of can’t believe we’ve never thought of that.”

“Well, that's the thing. You usually do your Miraculous Ladybug and then everyone wants your attention. Then Chat Noir typically helps the victim back to wherever they need to go. You guys are busy people.”

“So you want to follow the butterfly?” Chat Noir asked.

“Obviously, I would LOVE to be the one who finds Shadow Moth. But I think Chat Noir should be the one who follows the butterfly. I could stand by and create an illusion of Chat Noir if that became necessary.”

“Why me?”

“Well, like I said before, Ladybug has to fix everything and she may lose track of the butterfly during that. People also always want to talk to Ladybug. Whether or not it’s true Ladybug, people see you as the leader of all the miraculous holders, even Chat Noir.”

“Chat Noir and I are a TEAM,” Ladybug huffed, “How many times do I have to say it?”

“Either way, that’s what they think. So it would be weird for you not to stick around. Chat Noir knows the city better, is faster, and can get to more places than I could. It makes sense for him to follow the butterfly while I run cover and help in the aftermath.”

“I like it,” Chat Noir smiled, “Next Akuma?”

“Next Akuma.” The girls agreed.

“Well, I should get going and you guys have a city to patrol.” Rena Furtive stood. Ladybug used Chat Noir’s shoulder to help her get to her feet, then offered her hand to him. Rena smiled at the casual way Ladybug touched Chat Noir. The girl had no idea.

“Rena’s right. Seeing us run patrol helps the city morale and if we are too late people might get worried. Ready Kitty?” Ladybug took a running start and flung herself in the air.

“I’m ready to follow you anywhere, My Lady,” Chat Noir followed her into the night, but Alya doubted her friend heard the soft words.

Alya followed at a distance, close enough where she could keep an eye on her friends, but far enough back where neither of them would notice her. I’m not spying, she told herself, I am just making sure they are okay. But who was she kidding? She was so invested in the relationship of her two friends. Because she followed so far behind, she missed the action when they came across the repeated appearance of Mr. Pigeon. They beat their record for unakumatizing him, Alya getting there in time to watch as they purified the butterfly and waved goodbye to Mr. Ramier. She followed a little closer and watched as the two sat back to back on a roof, shadowed by the larger building to their left. They released their transformations and fed their Kwami. They were talking, but she was too far away to make out any of their words. She wanted to scream. All Adrien had to do was turn his head, just a little bit. Then he would know. And he desperately wanted to know. But he didn’t even twitch, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation. Part of her wanted to shake him, to tell him what an idiot he was and yell at him to just TURN AROUND. But the other half was filled with even more respect and admiration for the boy. He didn’t look because he knew Ladybug didn’t want him too. He knew she trusted him enough not to look. So he loved her enough not to look.

Alya jumped through the open window and let her transformation go. Trixx spiraled out of her necklace and looked around, confused. “Where are we?”

“Chat Noir’s room.”

“Chat Noir?! Why?”

Alya shrugged, “I want to talk to him.”

“Hmmm,” Trixx studied her for a moment, “Did you bring me a snack?”

“Of course. I always look out for my favorite Kwami,” Alya pulled out a bag of fresh berries and laid it on a side table. As her Kwami ate his fill, Alya wandered around. She kept the lights off, just in case someone decided to check on Adrien, but with the light coming in from the street though the wall of windows, she browsed the bookcases up at the second level. Adrien’s bedroom was HUGE. Two floors with all the things you would expect to find in a spoiled rich kids room. The only thing that was missing was the spoiled rich kid. She wondered how Adrien managed to have all of this and not act like the male version of Chloe. If anything, he should be more stuck up than Chloe. Chloe may be famous through association of her parents, but Adrien himself was a celebrity. A celebrity praised for his good looks. His ego should have its own gravitational pull and yet, he tended to stay in the background. If it wasn’t for Marinette, she might even forget that she sat one row back from someone many people around the world would recognize.

She heard the quiet whoop before she saw the black shadow cross in front of the windows to her right. She walked to the railing as Chat Noir somersaulted through the window. He de-transformed mid-air and landed in a spiderman poise. Alya choked back a laugh. That was definitely a practiced move. He walked to the bed and flopped on his back, throwing his arm across his face. Plagg zoomed towards a cabinet chanting “Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!” Before stopping dead at the side table where Trixx had eaten his snack.

“What is that?” Plagg sniffed at the bag, then wretched dramatically, “Gross!”

“What is it?” Adrien sat up and stared at his Kwami in confusion.

“Some form of toxic waste!”

“Uh, rude!” Trixx buzzed down and stopped next to Plagg. He crossed his little arms and lifted his nose, “It was berries, which are a million times better than the foul stuff you eat!”

As the Kwami argued, Adrien followed the flight path Trixx had taken and gaped at Alya leaning on his railing.

“What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“I was bored. I got in the same way as you, just with less flourish.”

He flushed, “Oh no. You saw that?”

“Yup. How many times did you have to practice that?”

He had the good sense not to answer, “Won’t your family wonder where you are?”

“Naw. No one’s home.” Alya took the stairs two at a time and threw herself on his couch.

“Okay, um, then why did you decide to come here?”

“Felt like it.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Please tell me you aren’t falling for me, for real this time,” he teased

“Ha! You wish. Nope, my heart only has room for one lover and that spot has been secured. But you are half of my OTP and it’s not often one can help a ship set sail.”

“OTP?”

“One True Pairing. It’s a fandom thing.”

“I know that,” he rolled his eyes, “I was questioning what I had to do with your OTP.”

“You and Ladybug. Hey, do you have any food?”

“Not my cheese!”

“I’ve got snacks in the cabinet over there,” he gestured to the side, “No one wants your cheese, Plagg,” he assured his Kwami.

Alya opened the cabinet. Inside were a few shelves full of packaged snacks and at the bottom, a mini fridge was nestled. Of course he would have this in his room. She grabbed a package of sour gummy worms and a bottle of some sort of fancy juice she had never heard of. 

“Want anything?” She called over her shoulder.

“No thanks.”

She closed the cabinet and turned back towards him. He sat on the extreme left of the couch, rigidly straight, and she frowned. “Won’t you relax?” She settled herself back into the cushion and crossed her legs. She sat in the corner of the right side of the couch, angled towards him.

“I don’t really know what to do. I don’t usually have people in my room.”

“Well, typically when friends hang out, they eat junk,” She demonstrated by throwing a gummy worn in the air and catching it in her mouth, “And talk.”

“What should we talk about?”

“Letting me choose the topic? She smiled evilly, “I wanna talk about Ladybug.”

“Okay,” He said slowly, giving her a suspicious look, “I like talking about Ladybug.”

“Great! What do you like about her? Specifically?”

“Oh.”

“Yup. This is what friends talk about. Besides, knowing what you like about her will help me IMMENSELY.”

“How?” He was fully suspicious now.

“Lets just say I have inside information.”

“Like what?”

“Can’t tell you. Yet. All in due time.” She waved her hand dramatically, “Now go on, give me details.”

“I am starting to regret telling you about Chat Noir. You are so noisy.”

“I am a journalist. Just because I can’t tell anyone doesn't mean I don’t want to know. Besides, it will feel good to talk about. I promise.”

“I think I will just feel pathetic.”

“No you won’t. The more you talk about it, the more normal it will be and the less awkward you will feel when you and Ladybug finally get together. Besides, nothing is a romance killer like self doubt.”

“You keep saying stuff like that. That me and Ladybug are “inevitable” or “just meant to be”. How can you be so confident?” He finally relaxed out of his stiff position. He turned towards her so he was leaning against the armrest and propped one leg across the couch and let the other hang down. Marinette would actually die if she was here, Alya thought as she appreciated his form with an artist's eye.

“Because I see things you can’t yet. Once we take care of Shadow Moth, you will. In fact, I'm pretty sure you will want to go back in time and slap some sense into yourself.”

Adrien eyed her dubiously.

“Fine. I’ll start. The only thing I’m worried about is that, when everything is over and you guys finally stop Shadow Moth, you will change your mind.”

“Change my mind?!” He asked incredulously.

Alya used every ounce of control she had to keep her poker face on. This was exactly the reaction she was looking for, “Yeah. Like what if you just liked the skintight suit and the thrill of being a hero, that when it’s just Ladybug, the girl, you’ll lose the spark.”

He sat up, glaring at her, “You can’t really think that!”

She shrugged, “You can’t tell me anything you like about her, so it must be material.”

“What? How could you say that? She is so much more than all that!” He stood and started agitatedly pacing and waving his arms. Alya smirked when his back was turned. With both Marinette and Adrien, the best way to make them talk about their feelings was when you made them defend the other. There was something noble about that. She let him rant for a few minutes before interrupting him.

“So, if you had to choose one thing, what would be your favorite thing about Ladybug?”

Adrien stopped pacing and turned towards her. She felt his indignation fade away. He collapsed on the couch and sighed, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you.”

“You’re starting to figure me out,” She laughed.

“That was…. Devious.”

“Hey, it worked. My specialty is getting information out of people.”

“Hmm. one thing, huh?” He shifted and started up at the ceiling, “I think if I had to choose one thing, it would have to be… The way she thinks.”

That surprised Alya, “Explain.”

“I don’t know if I can. She thinks so differently from anyone I have ever met. She puts things together and makes solutions out of seemingly nothing. It’s very random and yet, it’s so right. Kind of like the way her lucky charm works. It’s never straightforward, but she can just on the fly make it the perfect thing at the perfect moment. She is smart, but in an extraordinary way,” He sat in silence a beat or two, “what is your favorite thing about Nino?”

“Ah Nino,” Alya let the stupid smile cross her lips. She didn’t care if Adrien knew how in love she was with her beautiful idiot, “There are so many things, but I think my favorite thing is how completely not me he is.”

“What does that mean?”

"He is my opposite in every way and it is amazing.” She sang the last word.

“Not the first thing I would have guessed.”

“Yeah. I mean, there is a lot about Nino I love, but I think that is what consistently draws me to him. He completes me and I feel… Oh god this is corny, but he really makes me feel whole. Plus, he is super cute.”

“Theeeerrreee it is,” Adrien rolled his eyes.

“Had to throw it in,” Alya laughed.

“So… Do you think me and Ladybug complete each other?”

“Absolutely. You guys are opposites but somehow the same. I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s different from Nino and I, but still the same.”

“You’re right, that doesn’t make sense.”

“Have you ever thought about whether Ladybug goes to our school?”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, but I try really hard not to think about it. Ladybug values her identity and I don’t want to go behind her back, I feel like if I figure it out I’m betraying her somehow.”

“Okay, same topic, different direction. If Ladybug HAD to be someone in our class, who would you want it to be?”

He frowned, “I kind of wish that question was harder to answer.”

“What? Explain!”

“I mean, I know who is the most like Ladybug in our class, but I kinda feel like I am betraying Ladybug by thinking about our classmate like that.”

“WHO?”

“You are going to lose your mind.”

“Already happening, boy! Tell me!”

He sighed and closed his eyes, “If Ladybug had to be someone in our class, the only person who could even come close is obviously Marinette.”

“WHAT?! Why?!” Alya couldn’t decide if she was going to start dancing or if she was going to shake the information out of him.

“Well, think about it. I don’t think the Miraculous mess with gender, so that cuts out all the boys.”

“Obviously.” Alya rolled her eyes, a gesture she found herself doing more and more as she came to know Adrien better.

“Then, narrow it down by known traits and personality. Starting at the front left side of the classroom. Chloe is not Ladybug, I don’t think that requires any explanation. Next is Sabrina. Sabrina is obsessed with Chloe. If Sabrina was Ladybug, she probably would have given her Miraculous to Chloe eons ago. Sabrina is a sweet girl, but she just couldn’t be Ladybug. Next row, Alix and Mylene. I don’t think the Miraculous mess with physical body types either, so just based on that, neither of them could be Ladybug. But beside that, Mylene is too timid to be Ladybug.” Adrien paused and glanced at Alya, “I am not saying any of this to be mean, by the way, just pointing out why they couldn’t be Ladybug. Mylene has a lot of great qualities, everyone I am talking about does-”

“I know that,” Alya waved away his concerns, “Don’t worry, I know what you mean. Continue.”

“Okay. Alix is too.. It’s hard to describe, but she is, too blunt? I guess? She is straightforward and smart, but different from the way Ladybug thinks. The next row is Max and Kim. Back row. Rose is… She isn’t airheaded, but she is bubbly and not very clever. Juleka is too enamored with horror and she talks differently than how Ladybug does. Right side of the classroom only has Lila, you, and Marinette. Like Chloe, Lila isn’t Ladybug for self explanatory reasons. You obviously aren’t Ladybug. So that leaves Marinette. Marinette is actually so like Ladybug it’s scary. She is determined, brave, kind, stubborn, funny.” Adrien paused, then continued, “They even sorta look the same. If I didn’t know Marinette was an only child I would think they are siblings.”

“Hmmm. Yeah, I agree with you. Those are good points.” Alya wanted to smack him. How could he say all those things and not come to the obvious answer?

He answered her question a second later.

“But it doesn’t matter. None of them could be Ladybug. I’ve either helped Ladybug deakumatize them or I have seen them in the same room as Ladybug.”

“All of them?” Alya was surprised. That couldn’t be right.

“Akumatized people - Antibug, Vanisher, Horificator, Timebreaker, Reflecta, Princess Fragrance, Volpina. Even you as Lady WI-FI.” Adrien knocked out each person.

“Marinette has never been akumatized, has she?” Alya pointed out.

“No, but I watched Ladybug get the Mouse Miraculous back from her after we defeated Kwamibuster.

“Oh, I didn’t realize she had been the mouse.” She frowned, I wonder how she pulled that off?

“Have you told Marinette that you are Rena Furtive?” He countered

“Touche,”  Then she frowned, “Hey, you didn’t answer my question. I didn’t ask who could be Ladybug. I asked who you would want her to be.”

“Like I said, I don’t want to consider it. It feels… wrong.” He deliberately didn’t meet her eyes and she intuitively knew there was someone he wanted Ladybug to be. Alya studied him for a moment, deciding if she should push or let it be.

“Have you ever tried to guess her identity?”

“Oh, all the time,” Alya laughed, “But Chat Noir was literally sitting right in front of me and I never had a clue, so…” Alya let her sentence trail off with a shrug. She didn’t want to straight up lie if she could help it.

“Plagg says it’s magic. That’s why we can’t recognize each other. I mean, Carapace is my best friend and we never recognized each other. Of course, now that I know, it’s hard to believe I couldn’t see it before.”

“That makes sense. Just a mask isn’t the best way to hide your identity. Not when you are around people who actually know you.”

He looked exhausted. She stood and stretched, “Well, I probably should get going. Come on, Trixx.”

“Thanks for coming over. I-” He paused awkwardly, “I really like being your friend.”

“I like being your friend too, Adrien. You’re super cool,” Alya winked as Trixx transformed her into Rena Furtive. Then she leaped out the window and soared over the rooftops till she got to her own.

Alya and Marinette were laying up in Marinette’s loft bed. After a long needed girls day out, Marinette invited Alya to spend the night. Alya’s family was still out of town and she was sick of being alone, so she enthusiastically agreed. Marinette was winding down by drawing out a few designs. Alya’s phone had died earlier during the day, it was plugged into Marinette’s computer. Without her phone, Alya stared around her friend's familiar room, listening to the calming sound of Marinette’s pencil scratching across the paper. But something seemed… Off. It took her a second, studying the room that she knew almost as intimately as her own.

Alya frowned “Hey, when did you take down all of the pictures of Adrien?”

“Hmm?” Marinette glanced up from her sketch pad.

“You don’t have Adrien’s pictures anymore.”

“Yeah I do,” Marinette gestured to her wall of photos.

“Those are pictures you took.”

Marinette looked at the wall of photos. Most of them selfies, they were happy moments in time with her best friends, “Yeah, so?”

“So where are all the model pictures from magazines? The ones with golden boys' legendary smolder and dreamy eyes?”

“Got rid of them.”

“When? Why?” How could she have missed this development? “Are you saying you don’t like him anymore?”

Marinette rolled her eyes, “Of course I still like him! But I’m actually friends with him now and I know him so much better. Having a wall of those pictures seemed… cheap. Especially since that’s not the real him anyway. He’s a dork like the rest of us, not the fake smiles and glamorous performances he puts on for his shoots.” Marinette shot her friend a smirk, “obviously he’s a dreamboat but he’s a dorky dreamboat. Somehow that makes him even better.”

“When did you get rid of them?”

“A few months ago, I guess?” Marinette shrugged. “Right around the time we all started hanging out together, outside of school. I… was uncomfortable having them up. Besides, now that I am actively his friend, he might come over and I would rather not die from embarrassment again, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess it would be hard to be someone’s friend when you know they are obsessed with you and they stare at sexy pictures of you every night before they go to bed.” Alya caught the pillow Marinette fired at her head with a laugh.

Marinette went back to her sketch and the room was silent again. Alya felt herself start to drift to sleep to the calming skritch skritch skritch as Marinette drew out whatever design she had in her head. Then Marinette put her pencil down and sighed, breaking Alya from her lull. She raised an eyebrow and waited.

“Alya?” Marinette said after another moment.

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you a question?” Marinette sounded embarrassed and Alya sat up to face her friend. Marinette had drawn her knees to her chest.

“Of course.”

“Do you think you can be in love with two people at the same time?”

“Sure,” Alya responded quickly.

“So you wouldn’t think I was a terrible person if I thought I might be?”

“Of course not!” Alya was careful about her responses. She could tell Marinette was going to be flighty about this conversation and if Alya overreacted she would shut down, “You already knew I supported your relationship with Luka even though you still liked Adrien. I would never judge you for your feelings. It’s only bad if you are in a relationship with one person and act on your feelings for another person.”

“No, I know,” Marinette paused, “I don’t think I was ever in love with Luka though. I liked him a lot and I think I do love him. I’m glad we are friends, but I don't think it was ever love-love. And Luka knew how I felt. But even so, I broke up with him because it wasn’t fair to him. He deserved better and he deserved someone who wasn’t keeping half their life a secret. It’s one of the reasons that's keeping me back from pursuing anyone, actually.”

“What is?”

“As long as I am Ladybug, I really shouldn’t actively pursue anyone, you know? Like sure, I can pretend and dream, but I shouldn’t say yes. It wouldn’t be fair and I don’t want to have to lie about why I disappear all the time.”

“That’s stupid.”

Marinette frowned at her.

“All I’m saying is, I don’t think it would be the end of the world if you fell in love and told this person your secret. Obviously, you would need to be at a point in your relationship where you have lots of trust so you know they wouldn’t betray you, but I don’t think you would have to keep Ladybug a secret forever. Master Fu and his sweetheart knew about each other, both as their hero and civilian selves. Besides, some day, you are going to pass on the role of Guardian to someone else and I think you should have a tight group of people around you who can help you go through that. People like me, obviously, and Nino, and maybe this mystery love.”

Marinette was silent for a long moment, then she slowly nodded, “Maybe.”

Alya let the silence continue as Marinette pondered Alya’s words, then she decided to lighten the mood, “So, can I know who this mysterious second love of yours is?”

Marinette flopped back into her pillows, “Promise you won’t laugh?”

Alya made a crossing gesture with her fingers over her heart, “I promise.”

Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, “I think I might be falling in love with Chat Noir.”

Alya put on her best poker face. It wasn’t like this was new information to her. Marinette opened one eye, then frowned, “Why aren’t you freaking out?”

“Well, I'm not exactly shocked. So what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing.”

That didn’t surprise Alya either, but she raised an eyebrow, “Why not?”

“Because I have so much more to lose.” Marinette whispered, “Being in love with Adrien is easy. Like, even if I do confess how I feel to him and he doesn’t reciprocate, obviously I’d be crushed and embarrassed, but I think I could eventually get over it and we could be friends again. But Chat Noir is so much more than just my friend. And he cares about me so much. I wouldn’t feel right about having a romantic relationship with him knowing he is fully committed to me while I still am holding out a candle for someone else. He deserves better than that. And even if I do get over Adrien and get together with Chat Noir, what if I mess it up? I can’t afford to make any mistakes with Chat Noir. I don’t think I could survive losing him, he is half my world. Adrien Agreste is my first crush, but I have a feeling Chat Noir is my future.”

“That’s pretty significant,” Alya noted.

“Yeah,” Marinette agreed in a small voice, “I know.”

Alya let the silence grow again. Marinette went back to her sketchbook for about five minutes before she sighed again and put the pad and pencil in the little nook above her bed. Alya waited as Marinette sat back down. The girl obviously had more she wanted to say, so Alya stayed quiet, knowing eventually Marinette would tell her whatever it was.

“It’s scary though, he loves me so much and that’s terrifying.”

Alya snorted.

“Why are you laughing at me? I’m being vulnerable right now,” Marinette whined

“No girl, you are being ridiculous.”

Marinette huffed, “I am not.”

“Chat Noir has already done the scary part. If you feel the same way, it will be the easiest thing in the world.”

“How has Chat Noir already done the scary part?”

“Why haven’t you told Adrien how you felt?” Alya countered, then answered her own question, “Because giving your heart to someone not knowing if they will return the gesture, that’s the hard part. Giving your heart to someone who you know won’t let you fall, that is the safest part you could have.”

Marinette’s face softened as she considered her friend's words.

“Besides, you’d be crazy not to fall in love with Chat Noir,” Alya continued, “He lives for your every breath. How could you not fall in love with that level of adoration?”

“That’s the problem,” Marinette threw herself face down on her bed, “He’s in love with an illusion, with the mask. He doesn’t even know me.”

“I didn’t realize your entire identity was your first name.” Alya said dryly.

“What? No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not Ladybug, not really.”

 “Marinette!” Alya cried, laughing, “Of course you are Ladybug, whether you have the mask or not. You don’t become someone else, you aren’t controlled by Tikki. Sure, it’s easier to be brave when you have a mask to hide behind, but you are still you.” Alya shook her head, “You always make things more complicated and bigger than they need to be. But at the end of the day, you are you. And that’s the girl Chat Noir loves.”

“Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it now.” Marinette said into her blankets.

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I decided to act on how I feel about Chat Noir, I couldn’t until Shadow Moth is defeated.”

“Why? That could be years!”

“Chat Noir deserves someone who gives their whole self, someone he can call in the middle of the night when he feels lonely, someone who can take him out for ice cream on a random day. He deserves more than only seeing his person when the city is in crisis.”

 “Would it really be that bad to tell Chat Noir who you are?”

“Yes.” Marinette turned to look at Alya, but her eyes were far away, like she was remembering something terrible, “It would be the end of the world.”

Alya wanted to tell her friend she was being silly and overdramatic, but the look in her eyes was so full of anguish that she decided not to push the issue. Instead she just sighed and rubbed her friends back, “It’ll work out, somehow.”

“I hope so. Will you cuddle with me?”

“Of course.”

Alya watched in silent amusement as Marinette and Adrien both fidgeted in their seats as Ms. Mendeleiev lectured. Alya would be lying if she said she wasn’t antsy herself. It had been almost two weeks since their rooftop rendezvous and almost two and a half weeks since the last akuma, (Mr. Pigeon didn’t count). It was like Shadow Moth knew they actually wanted something to happen for once and decided to make them wait just to spite them. Alya watched Adrien shift in his seat for the umpteenth time, flipping his pen through his fingers so quickly it was a silver blur. Her attention shifted to Marinette. She was bouncing her leg like she was trying to track the tempo of a fast paced song and it looked like she was about to chew through her lip. Alya gently bumped shoulders with her friend. Marinette stopped bouncing her leg and looked at Alya, a question in her eyes. You okay? Alya mouthed. Marinette grimaced, then slid a piece of paper from her folder, angled the sheet so Alya could read as she wrote.

I just had an awful idea.

Alya looked up, letting her eyes form the question and Marinette nodded and continued to write.

It’s been so long and I’m getting desperate. It's a bad idea, obviously. But what if… 

Marinette stopped writing and looked at Alya, a mixture of shame and chagrin in her face. Alya made a ‘continue’ gesture with her finger, giving her friend an imploring look, Just spit it out! She mouthed. Marinette's lips formed a thin line, but she looked back to her paper and continued writing.

What if we… helped the process along… by getting Chloe upset…..

Alya let her mouth drop open as she stared at her friend. Marinette buried her face in her hands. She turned to look at Alya, her eyes pleading. Alya gave her a look that said they would talk about this later as she took the paper with the one sided conversation on it and crumbled it up before stuffing it into her bag.

Alya meant to get Marinette alone when class ended, but Adrien swung around as soon as Ms. Mendeleiev released them.

“Hey Alya, Can I talk to you?”

“Um, sure?” Alya turned and gave Marinette a “don’t move, I still want to talk to you” look. Marinette nodded meekly. Satisfied that her friend would be there when she got back, she followed Adrien into an empty classroom.

“What’s up, Ensoleillement?”

Adrien gave her an odd look, but didn’t comment. “I’m getting worried about the lack of akuma action.”

“You don’t say?” Alya rolled her eyes.

“Well, yeah,” Adrien frowned at her as her sarcasm went cleanly over his head, “Aren’t you?”

Alya shrugged, “I mean, it’s inconvenient that Shadow Moth decided to give us breathing room right when we made a plan, but I wouldn’t say I’m worried.”

Adrien started pacing, “I guess I’m not worried. I’m just anxious. I was so ready to do this and the longer it takes the more anxious I get.”

“Hey,” Alya said gently, touching his arm, making him pause to look at her, “It’ll be okay. Shadow Moth has had extended periods of inactivity before. He won’t stay quiet forever and when he does finally break his silence, we will be ready for him.”

“You're right. Of course you’re right.” Adrien took a deep breath.

“Besides, you and Ladybug are gonna patrol tonight, right? That’ll help with the nerves. Talk about the game plan again. Or talk about whatever to help you feel less anxious. That’s what being partners is all about, right? Being there for each other? I bet she is just as anxious as you are.”

“Right.” Adrien smiled at her, and she was pleased to see it reach his eyes, “Thanks Alya.”

“Anytime.” Alya let Adrien leave the classroom first. One down. One to go. Alya made her way back to Marinette. Her friend had her head laying in the crook of her elbow, watching dust motes dance in the air. Alya leaned on the door jamb, crossing her arms and putting on her best ‘disappointed mom’ face. After a moment, Marinette saw her and sat up. Alya raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t mean it!” Marinette defended.

“Oh?”

“Of course not! It was just… an errant idea, that’s all! I would never purposely make someone upset to get them akumatized!”

Alya dropped her charade, “I know girl. Even if Chloe is an easy target, I know you would never do something like that.”

Marinette sighed in relief, “Thanks, Alya. I’m just getting desperate, you know? I was psyching myself up to be ready for the next attack and it’s been weeks! I don’t want to lose my edge.”

“I know. I’m getting antsy too.” Alya tried not to laugh as she gave out the same advice she just gave not five minutes ago, “But you and Chat Noir are gonna patrol tonight, right? That’ll help with the nerves. Talk about the game plan again. Or talk about whatever to help you feel less anxious. That’s what being partners is all about, right? Being there for each other? I bet he is just as anxious as you are.”

“Yeah, you're right. Talking through the plan with Chat will help.” Alya watched as some of the tension left Marinette’s shoulders, “You’re the best, Alya.” Marinette gave her a hug before she dashed off to her next class.

“Don’t I know it, girl.” Alya said under her breath. Getting all this gratitude all the time was going to give her a complex.

Rena Furtive jumped into the shadows. Peering over the top of a chimney, her eyes searching out her friends. Although she wasn’t officially a part of the patrol, she liked to keep an eye on her friends. It also gave her a chance to work out her own nervous energy. There was something about hiding from Ladybug and Chat Noir as they patrolled that gave her a thrill and itched her need to be investigating and sneaking around. But, she mostly did it to keep her friends safe. It had been a quiet night and Ladybug and Chat Noir hadn’t seen any action. Rena leaped to the next building over, about ready to give up on finding the couple. They had probably left for their respective homes by now. She turned and jumped, when a flash of red caught her eye. She back tracked and peaked over at where the color had been.

Ladybug was sitting with her legs dangling off the side of the building. Chat Noir was laying down, his head resting in her lap, one leg stretched out and one leg bent at the knee. His tail flicked lazily against the building. Ladybug leaned back on one arm, her other hand mindlessly playing with Chat’s hair and scratching his ears. She was staring up at the stars and he was staring at her.

Rena Furtive couldn’t help herself. She took a picture with the camera in her flute and sent it to her phone. They just looked so perfect, so completely in the moment. In the silence of the night, with most the citizens of Paris asleep, this moment was theirs. Rena decided it was time for her to leave. Hopefully someday, she could give this picture to them and let them relive the moment.

Alya stared at herself in her camera. She hadn’t done a video blog post in a while and she knew her followers were getting sick of the wordy articles she had been posting. But it was a lot harder to do a video now that she almost never got real footage of the superhero that was her blog's namesake. Well, at least footage she could share. Her mind was completely blank. With an audible moan, she closed out of her camera.

“Something wrong, babe?” Nino rolled over to glance at her.

She laid her forehead on her desk, “Just an overall lack of inspiration.“ Alya said into the wood.

She heard Nino slide off her bed and walk over. He laid his hand on her shoulder and gently nudged her to look at him. She complied and couldn’t help the smile when she looked into his sincere eyes.

“Wanna talk about it, or do you want a distraction?”

“How do you always know the perfect thing to say?” She leaned up to kiss him slowly.

He smirked, pulling away after a few moments, “Are you avoiding the question?”

“Maybe this is the distraction I want.”

“Is it?”

“Yes?”

“Let me know when you're sure,” He teased, making a show of walking back to her bed.

As if pulled by an invisible string trying the two of them together, she followed. “It’s just that, because of the whole ‘Rena Furtive’ thing, I don’t ever get to be ‘Alya, investigative reporter extraordinaire’. I am touched by the responsibility and trust Ladybug has given me, and I don’t want to not be Rena Furtive, but sometimes…”

“You are always extraordinary.” Nino kissed her nose, “How about this, next fight, after it’s over, Carapace could give a private interview before Ladybug takes the Miraculous back.”

Alya walked her fingers up his chest, “What would a girl have to do to get an interview from the objectively sexiest member of Team Miraculous?”

“Hmmm. That’s a good question.” Nino pretended to ponder her question, “What are you willing to give?”

Alya decided to show him.

Alya woke up to her text tone going off repeatedly. She groaned and snatched it from her nightstand and swore as the phone lit up, blinding her. Bleary-eyed, she turned the brightness down so she could actually see who was texting up a storm. There were several texts from Marinette and Adrien, telling her to get her butt up. She sighed as she slid out of her warm covers. Of course, after weeks of nothing, Shadow Moth decided that he had to akumatize someone at 2 in the damned morning. She told Marinette she was on her way, then copy and pasted the same message to Adrien. For once, she was glad Nino didn't end up spending the night.

“Trixx?”

“Ready!”

With a flash, she was Rena Furtive. She felt much better, like she had taken a shot of caffeine straight into her bloodstream. But she knew that would only make the crash when she transformed back later that much worse. It didn’t take long for her to find her friends, but they had pretty much wrapped it up. She hid behind a chimney and put the earbud from her flute in her ear.

“There you are!” Ladybug threw her yoyo, “I thought you were going to miss the party.”

“If I can’t sleep, no one will!” Screamed the akumatized villain as she shot something out of a… baby bottle? Whoever got hit with the liquid turned into the most tired looking zombie people Alya had ever seen.

“What’s up with her?” Rena Furtive asked.

“She is a tired mom whose kid is going through some rough nights.” Chat Noir responded as he dodged a spray.

“Got it!” Ladybug yanked her yoyo back and dragged the bottle away. Breaking it over her knee, she released the Akuma, “Ready?”

“Ready!”

“No more evil doing for you, little akuma!” Ladybug captured the butterfly, “Time to de-evilize!”  The black and purple disappeared, “Bye bye, little butterfly.” 

“Well, that’s my cue!” Chat Noir said as Rena Furtive made it look like his ring was beeping. He vaulted up and followed the white wisp that was all Rena could see of the butterfly.

“Miraculous Ladybug!” Ladybug threw the bottle of eye drops in the air.

“What did you do with those?”

“Not my most clever Lucky Charm. I used it as bait. Apparently, her eyes were itchy from lack of sleep.”

Ladybug dropped down and helped the sleepy mother to her feet, “Where am I? Where is my baby?!”

“Don’t worry. Chat Noir found him and dropped him off at his grandma’s house. Let's get you to bed.”

“Wait, let me call and make sure everything is okay.”

Ladybug waited patiently as she called and confirmed her son was in good health, then she closed her phone, “Thanks Ladybug. Will you thank Chat Noir for me too?”

“Of course.”

After dropping her off at her home, Ladybug joined Rena Furtive on the rooftops.

“Where are we meeting back up with Chat Noir?”

“In the usual spot. But first we have to recharge.” As if on cue, their miraculous beeped.

“Right.” Rena Furtive followed Ladybug into a deep shadow cast by a steeple and they de-transformed. As they fed their Kwami, Marinette looked towards where Chat Noir had disappeared. “Do you really think it will be this easy?” She whispered.

“I hope so. This plan almost feels too easy, you know? Like it’s too simple to actually work.”

“Well, hopefully it’s so simple Shadow Moth will overlook that possibility,” Marinette looked over at Alya, “Ready?”

“Yup!”

They transformed and made their way over to the tall building across from the Eiffel Tower. Chat Noir wasn’t there yet.

“How long do you think it's been?” Ladybug asked with a frown, “Do you think he should have been here by now?

“Ladybug!” As if her question brought him into existence he came leaping over a building, “Get your yoyo ready!” His voice held a hysterical edge to it that sent a shiver of dread down Alya’s spine.

Without a moment of hesitation, Ladybug whipped out her yoyo and started twirling it, looking for the source of Chat Noir’s terror. Her eyes widened as she almost missed the tiny black shadow following in Chat Noir’s wake. It was fast, despite its deceptively lazy fluttering, getting closer to Chat Noir with every flap.

“Get behind me!” She commanded as Chat Noir landed next to them. He did as she asked immediately. As the Akuma neared, Ladybug hurled her yoyo. She didn’t say anything, just purified and released the butterfly before turning back to her partner.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“No,” His voice broke, “No, I’m not okay.”

Ladybug started methodically checking him over for wounds, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” She gently felt along his head for bumps or cuts. He didn’t react to her probing.

“Shadow Moth is my father,” Chat Noir choked out.