Chapter Text
They weren’t always the brightest bunch to be sure and really Marinette was surprised that she hadn’t been discovered earlier. However, she was waiting for Alya to spring from behind a bush, camera phone snapping up a storm as she went from Ladybug to plain old Marinette. Waiting for a battle to go too long and for Chat Noir to see her transformation wear-off before she has a chance to dive into a closet again.
But no.
It was far worse than that.
Chloe had found out. Chloe.
Now her school life had boiled down to not irritating Chloe enough to out her. Thankfully, being such a “superior being” Chloe wanted to keep the information to herself. She wanted to hold it above everyone’s head that she knew Ladybug. In fact, not only did she know who Ladybug was, but she was friends with the polka-dotted superheroine.
It was awful and there was nothing Marinette could do to correct the situation without being ousted to everyone else out of spite. Marinette sighed, laying her head down on her desk.
“There’s no way she really knows Ladybug.” Alya huffed, glancing over to Chloe as she continued to boast.
Marinette lifted her head, to prop it on her arm. She was resigned to her fate.
‘Ladybug wouldn’t befriend Chloe.’ Adrien thought to himself, overhearing the conversation behind him. In all of Ladybugs interactions with Chloe she had seemed… irritated to put it mildly. I mean she was the main cause of every other Akuma they fought. So he had no idea why his Lady, who wouldn’t even reveal her secret to Chat Noir, would give it away to Chloe. The only answer was that it couldn’t be true.
But what if it was?
The thought haunted him through class.
It went against everything he knew about his Lady but Chloe didn’t normally make such wild proclamations without at least something in her pocket. Even if it was falsified evidence or blown way out of proportion, she would know something. And if Chloe knew something, then he would have to find out what.
“Do you really know who Ladybug is?” He asked, catching Chloe on the steps exiting the school. Chloe turned, grin splitting wider than he’d ever seen before.
“Of course. We’re friends.” She said flippantly, casually placing a hand against his chest. “Best friends in fact.”
He took a step back so that her hand would fall away from him, biting his tongue before he could reply something that might give his alter ego away with some Chat Noir only knowledge.
“I didn’t think she’d be willing to let anyone know her secret.” He replied instead of ‘Ah, didn’t she get really irritated with you? Enough to leave Chat Noir to guard you alone.’
Chloe’s grin became impossibly wider. She dropped her shoulder to look up at him from the corner of her big blue eyes as they sparkled with glee at knowing something he didn’t. His stomach dropped to his shoes. Maybe she did know something.
“Well normally she wouldn’t, but we’re really good friends. Of course, who wouldn’t want to be my friend?” She gushed.
“Of course.” He muttered.
“Anyway, how else would I have gotten this?” She continued, pulling a replica yo-yo from her bag. He rolled his eyes.
“Chloe that’s just a-” She cleared her throat, interrupting him as she turned over the replica. Adrien’s jaw dropped. There’s no way. But it was there, written black marker across the back.
To my best friend Chloe.
I hope you like this.
Thank you for keeping my secret.
-Ladybug
It even had her signature!
Chloe smirked. “So you see. We are best friends.”
He couldn’t refute it. How did she get this? Why would Ladybug befriend someone like Chloe? And reveal her secret to her no less. Didn’t she trust Chat Noir? He stared at it in a daze of confusion. It was to unreal.
“I’m sure if you would like something signed though Adrien, I can ask her for you.” She said in false sweetness.
He barely heard her above the whistle of disbelief in his ears. He nodded numbly and turned to his car, by-passing Nino, completely stunned by the revelation that Chloe may indeed know Ladybug.
‘Okay, this is just plain weird.’ Alya thought to herself and Chloe attached herself to Marinette.
“Marinette, I love your skirt today. Did you make it?” Chloe cooed, latching on to Marinette’s arm. Marinette for her part, didn’t recoil either, accepting her fate and not trying to wrench her arm away.
“Yeah, I made it last week.” Marinette answered.
Alya couldn’t believe her eyes. Marinette was being civil to Chloe and Chloe was fawning over Marinette.
“It’s gorgeous. Make me one with a ladybug pattern.” Chloe said sweetly before releasing Marinette’s arm and continuing into class.
Alya was at a loss for words. Marinette didn’t, yell or refuse, she just sighed and nodded. What had happened. Had she entered the twilight zone?
It didn’t stop there either. Chloe now sat a row back so as to sit across the aisle from Marinette. She took Marinette for lunch. She waited for her after school. And Marinette didn’t complain once, or comment on how weird, she just… carried on with it. Alya couldn’t believe it.
After the third day of this strange behaviour Alya had had enough.
“Okay Marinette, what’s going on?” Alya demanded, hands on hips.
Marinette shrugged, trying her best to look innocent. It didn’t work well. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean, you and Chloe are now besties for some reason. She won’t leave you alone and you don’t seem to mind.” Alya explained. Marinette smiled uneasily.
“Oh, Chloe’s really not so bad.” Marinette replied.
Alya blinked. “We’re talking about the same Chloe right? Reduced several classmates to tears?”
“Ah, she’s not so bad. Adrien is friends with her so she can’t be completely awful.” Marinette said, staring studiously at the ground as she headed into class.
‘This is it.’ Alya thought to herself as she watched Marinette take a seat, unperturbed by Chloe’s obnoxious boasting of the latest gift she received from Ladybug. ‘The end of days is here.’
‘There’s no way she trusts Chloe with a secret like that.’ Chat Noir thought to himself as he vaulted over the rooftops of Paris. ‘She didn’t even like her. But why would she sign that replica?’
He was circling the areas he normally ran into Ladybug. Part of him whispered that if he wanted to know for sure if Chloe and her were friends he could stake-out Chloe’s loft; but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Especially after the Lady WiFi incident.
He sighed, completing a second circuit of the places he’d seen her, but no luck. He paused at the edge of a building overlooking the park where they had fought the crazed weather girl. Technically he could just call her and ask to meet but that seemed like he’d be wasting her time. She’d likely be less inclined to come and answer his questions if he did that. No, it was much better to just find her naturally. But he didn’t even know if she was transformed right now, he thought, tail twitching in agitation. Why could he never find her when he was looking, but she could always find him? He glanced around one last time before deciding to call it a night, and if he happened to need to pass by Chloe’s place on his way home then there was no problem there. Right?
Yeah.
He’d just made his mind up to leave when-
“You looking for me Kitty?”
He definitely did not jump a mile in the air, and almost slip off the roof. He may have jumped a little though at the sudden voice in his ear.
“M-My Lady.” He gasped, spinning around and trying to regain his composure. “You surprised me.”
“Clearly.” She laughed. He pouted, placing his hands on his hips, tail swishing back and forth. His agitation didn’t last for long as Ladybug only laughed harder and he became drawn in by the sound. “Now, I get the feeling you’re looking for me?”
“I am always searching for my Lady.” Chat quipped.
Ladybug rolled her eyes.
“But honestly I had been searching for you.” He continued. He suddenly felt nervous asking. If he wasn’t careful (and when was he ever) he would probably give himself away. How to phrase this without revealing too much. “I uh, I heard that you had made a new friend.”
The effect was immediate. Ladybug stiffened and her natural ease seemed to vanish in a heartbeat. Her smile became forced as she replied. “W-Where did you hear that?”
Chat’s curiosity peaked. “News travels fast. Especially when your friend is the Mayor’s daughter.” He said faux-casually, watching as Ladybug’s smile became more and more brittle.
“Chloe?” Ladybug said, trying to play casual but wasn’t as convincing as she would’ve hoped. “Yeah, she’s… an angel.”
He couldn’t believe it. “What? Last time we had to protect her you left because you couldn’t stand her.”
Ladybug seemed to grow more brittle with every second, as though admitting to being Chloe’s friend was destroying her from the inside. Which made no sense. Why would she do this and then be so unwilling to reveal the friendship unless she was afraid to put Chloe at risk. If so, Chloe didn’t really seem to care, which means that couldn’t be it. But why would she tell Chloe her secret identity unless…
“Chloe worked out who you are.” He stated.
Ladybug seemed to deflate, letting out a large huff of air and resting her palms against her forehead. “Don’t give her that much credit.” She groaned, her head falling back as she pushed against it with her hands. “I wasn’t as careful as I should have been and Chloe saw me walk in one room as Ladybug and back out as well.. not Ladybug.”
Relief crashed over him like a tsunami and he let out a startled breath of laughter. “That’s a relief. I thought for a moment that you would trust Chloe with your secret over me.” He smiled.
Ladybug didn’t appear to share his sentiments. “As reassured as you are, I am still at the beck and call of Chloe.” She said Chloe’s name as though it was an offensive word.
“Is there no way to convince her that she didn’t in fact see the real you? That it could be a ruse?” Chat inquired hopefully.
Ladybug shook her head, sinking down to sit on the edge of the roof. “Unless we can come up for a reason why I’ve played along for the past week then no.”
“But what if she were to see you, as in the real you, and someone who looks identical to Ladybug, thereby proving you’re not the same person?” He sat down next to Ladybug, nudging her shoulder with his.
“And who do you have in mind for this false Ladybug? She would also find out who I am as well.” She sighed, defeated.
“It would be better than Chloe knowing though right?” Chat implored. “And I know the perfect candidate for your doppelganger.” He said with a smile. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, hmming an affirmation for him to continue.
“Do you remember, the Evillstrator?” He asked.
Ladybug’s heart lurched. Oh no. “The Akuma who went after Chloe by drawing a giant shoe?”
“That’s the one.” He smiled. “The girl you asked me to protect while you were on your ‘secret mission’, Marinette. She would be perfect.” He explained with a flourish. “She seemed reliable and brave, I am sure she would keep your secret.”
“I’m sure she would.” Ladybug groaned. This can’t be happening.”But isn’t she friends with that Ladyblogger who keeps trying to find our identities?”
Chat Noir, smiled, scratching the back of his head. He’d forgotten that little detail. But Marinette seemed the type who could keep a secret. She’d never really spoken to Adrien so he couldn’t be sure but… “I’m sure she wouldn’t reveal who you are.”
Ladybug just shrugged, rising to her feet with a groan. “I don’t think it’ll work Chat Noir. Thank you for trying to help. I better go. I have a whole number of other things to autograph.” She said with a groan, before she leapt off the building.
Poor Ladybug. There must be something he could do.
Before he could think on it his ring beeped reminding him that he had been out for a while in costume. He sighed, leaping from the edge of the building and heading in the general direction of home.He had to make sure to transform a bit away otherwise he’d be spotted by the security cameras.
THAT’S IT!
They could doctor a video of Ladybug and her civilian personality in the same room, maybe put it on the Ladyblog! He was sure Alya would love a scoop like that! It was perfect.Except he’d know… He’d know that both the girls in the video were Ladybug. But it’s better for him to know than for Chloe to know. He wouldn’t mind if she knew who he was.
He ducked down into an alley and released his transformation, Plagg spiraling out of the ring and out onto his shoulder. He would wait until tomorrow to ask Ladybug what she thought of the idea.
“I thought she didn’t want you know who she is.” Plagg commented from where he lay slumped over.
“Maybe I could convince her that it is better for me to know, than for Chloe to know that she actually does know.” Adrien explained.
“I’ll pretend that makes sense.” Plagg grumbled.