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"I don't know if I should tell you Chat" Ladybug said, looking down at her closed fists.
"Is it because you don't trust me?" he asked, turning away.
"No- no that's not the reason. I- I think you'll hate me, or be angry, like A- Rena. And- and you would have every right to be mad at me. But I dont think I would be able handle that"
"No ladybug, I don't think I would be angry with you, I could never be. Maybe sad? But never angry. Please, I've seen you these days, you're stressed. I know you can't tell me stuff because of our identities, but we can be vague. We can talk about it y'know?"
Ladybug turned to face him, grabbing her yo-yo, and fishing out what seemed like a letter. She handed it to Chat. It was addressed to Adrien Agreste. "You can be angry at me, or whatever, but please don't mention this to Adrien" She said, her hand trembling.
Chat took her hand in his, nodding slowly, and taking the letter from her.
He opened the envelop carefully, setting it aside, and unfolded the paper inside.
"My son, if you're reading this letter, it means I'm with your mother. I sacrificed everything to save Emilie. I was Monarch. I did all I could to seize the Miraculous of the Ladybug and the Black Cat. With their powers, I could have brought your mother back, but I failed. My son, it's your turn now to continue my mission. Don't worry, you'll have help. Nathalie will explain. You will seize the Miraculous of that wretched Ladybug and her pathetic partner, Cat Noir, and you will make the wish to bring your mother and me back. You will be perfect. I know these revelations will turn your life completely upside down. It was the case for your mother and me when we first found out about the Miraculous. But we never regretted harnessing the Peacock Miraculous…"
Chat Noir's breathing got ragged. He was crumpling the papers, staring straight towards the Agreste Mansion.
"Chat Stop! What are you doing" Ladybug held his shoulder and tried to shake him out of his daze.
Suddenly, Chat snapped out of it. "I- I'm sorry I just… Wow. So you were right the first time."
"What do you mean?"
He was numb at this point. His own father? Monarch? It made sense. It made perfect sense. Why he was sent to London. Why his father wanted to lock him up at home. Why he always seemed so busy! He will have time to think about it later, now he is not Adrien, He's Chat Noir, and he should stay in that role. Even if he wants to demand answers. Know how Ladybug has this letter. Why she lied to the entire world. She would tell, He'd make sure of that, but he had to stay in character.
"Remember the time we faced Volpina? The next day you said you suspected Gabriel Agreste to be hawkmoth."
"Well it's not our fault! He akumatized himself to throw us off his trail"
"Yeah, kinda weird he got akumatized the exact day you were suspicious."
Silence.
"Has Rena seen it?"
"No, you're the only one, other than Nathalie Sancouer. Rena figured it out herself."
"Why-"
Tears were freely flowing from her eyes, her voice was shaky, but that didn't stop her.
"Why I lied to everyone? Can't you see Chat? Nathalie is his only guardian now. If I were to report all this, she will be legally persecuted, Adrien will be shunned, he will be alone! Besides Gabriel Agreste's dying wish was to make sure his son remembers only the good father he was and never find out about his evil side. And what good would it bring to hurt Adrien by telling him his father was the villain all along? But- but then I found this letter. Nathalie demanded that I destroy it."
She wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling them towards her chest.
"I kept it anyway, because, who are we to decide what's good for him, right? And- and I've tried to give this letter to him once, it ended in a disaster. But I can't do this anymore Chat, I'm not able to talk to anyone these days, because all I speak are lies. I'm lying with every breath and each time they keep growing, I'm building walls of lies and I hate it. I hate it so much. And- and Adrien, I know he's struggling to accept that his father is a good person, because news flash- he never was! But he doesn't know that and I hate that I had to keep this from him and gaslight him into thinking that monster was a good father! I don't know what to do!"
She broke out in sobs.
Chat listened. He listened carefully. It seemed like cogwheels were turning in his brain, his eyes were teary, hands still trembling. He wanted to yell at her, for lying. Reprimand her for making him believe that his father had been any good. But he understood. As much as he hated it, he understood. But that did not mean he was any less angry.
"Chat, please say something" Ladybug was pleading. A part of him wanted to lash out at her.
"I'm Angry"
"You have every right to be angry Chat. I'm sorry I lied to everyone but I didn't feel like I had a choice."
"No, you don't understand ladybug, I'm angry, but not at you."
Ladybug looked confused
"It's Hawk moth's fault. I wouldn't blame you. You did what you thought was best"
"You- you really think I did the right thing?"
"No. Not entirely, Paris deserves to know the truth-"
"But-"
"I understand your reasoning. We don't want another mass akumatization. Making Gabriel the hero was wrong, yet it's done. But you can, and should tell Adrien the truth. The whole truth. Yes he will be devastated-"
Chat closed his eyes, not wanting to show tears
"He will be devastated but he'll have his friends by his side, and marinette. He will get through this. I'm asking you to trust him Ladybug."
"I- I'll think about it. Thank you Chat, for not being… disappointed, I guess?"
"I won't lie, I am disappointed, but we have to remember, we're just teens. And we're all doing our best"
"Can I hug you Chat?"
Chat mustered all his strength to feign a smile, yet it appeared broken. He wrapped his arms around her crouched figure, resting his chin on her midnight hair.
"That okay?"
Ladybug mumbled a "mhm" into his chest.
Right now, he had to be strong for his lady. His time to be comforted would come. Everything would be okay.
When they fell asleep like that, nobody realised.
When they weren't found in their rooms in the morning, it was assumed that the teens went out for a walk together.