A/N: This is an alternate ending to S2 E9 Glaciator. I suggest you watch it first before reading, but you don't have to. You can find it on youtube now, but it comes out on Netflix March 30. :-D
A big shout out to AJ McLeod for helping me with this!
It's beautiful Cat Noir...
Cat Noir: Aren't you glad you finally came?
L: L-listen... I don't want to play around with your feelings. It would be the same as lying to you. I don't wanna do that. You're more than a partner, Cat Noir. You're my friend, and I'd never wanna lie to a friend.
C: Why do you think it'd be lying?
L: Because... there's this boy I...
C: There's a boy? Who is...
L: It's... *squeezes fist* I can't tell you who it is. We can't know anything about each other. Our identities must remain a secret. We're superheroes, Cat Noir. We don't have a choice.
C: *steps closer, smiles, hands her the rose* I get it, Ladybug. Your friendship means everything to me. *kisses her cheek* You can keep the rose. It goes with your costume.
L: * blushes*
"It's not that I don't trust you." Ladybug grabbed his arm as he extended his baton, ready to swing over the Parisian rooftops. Her cornflower blue eyes held such intensity that Cat couldn't look away. "I trust you more than anyone in the world. It's just that..." He held his breath, afraid she wouldn't go on. "It's just that... maybe you'll think I'm silly. That it's just a shallow celebrity crush, but it's so much more than that. I actually know him! And I couldn't stand it if you thought me shallow or immature."
"Never." The word was an instant reaction. Will she actually tell me who this crush is? Do I really want to know? Of course he did. The same way you want to know how close you can get to the fire, mesmerized by its flames, before getting burned.
"I have seen how much you care for others. I could never think you're shallow. You don't have to tell me anything milady, unless you want to. I'm always here if you want to talk." He hoped she could see the sincerity in his eyes as she searched him. Debated. Looked away.
He laced his fingers through hers, but decided not to say anything else. He waited. If she wanted to talk, she would. If she didn't, then he would just be there for her. They both stared at their connected hands. A surge of electricity tingled up from every square inch where they touched. Up his arm to his heart, which he thought for sure might explode.
She looked up again. "His name is..." Cat literally couldn't breathe. "His name is Adrien."
Adrien.
A celebrity.
He might die. His heart might give out before he even made it out of his teens.
"Adrien... Agreste? The model?" His words came out shakier than he would have liked.
Surprise boomed onto her face as her eyes shot to his. "You... you've heard of him?"
He nodded. It was all he could do to keep the shock and silly lovestruck grin off his face.
She backed away. "Like I said, it's not just a celebrity crush. He's so kind and generous! He always thinks of others first."
Cat was still speechless. Gobsmacked was more like it. Should I tell her? Would she be happy to know that I'm actually the one she loves? Would she somehow be disappointed? After all, she's never shown any interest in me as Cat Noir.
She apparently took his silence as some sort of judgement because she stepped back further. "I'm sorry. I've said too much. I should have just taken my own advice. We can't know each other's identities! I... I shouldn't have... I have to go." The words practically spilled out of her as she turned away. She threw her yo-yo and whirled off.
"Ladybug! Wait!" But she was already gone.
Adrien plopped down on his bed, not bothering to hide his grin, and sighed.
His small, black kwami flew up to greet him, misinterpreting his sigh. "The only way to get over heartache is to eat a whole bunch of cheese. Shall we?"
"I don't have a heartache, Plagg."
"Great! So, then no cheese fest?" He gave a dejected pout.
Adrien laughed and tossed him a piece of his favorite stinky Camembert. He happily chomped down as the teen sighed again.
"She likes me, Plagg. I mean, she likes the real me. Not my fame or money or cool things. She likes me. She said I was kind." He sat up, excited. "Just think, I've met Ladybug in real life! I have to find out who she is!"
The catlike sprite gulped the last of his cheese and stretched. "But doesn't she want her identity to be a secret?" He yawned and nestled onto the pillow.
Adrien let out a frustrated breath and fell back onto the bed, nearly sending the magical creature flying.
"You're right. If she found out I was looking for her, she might not trust me anymore."
Plagg huffed at being displaced after he was already comfortable. "Go to bed, lover boy. You can see her tomorrow." Another yawn. "Or maybe you won't. But we can rest assured in one thing..." He closed his eyes. "There will always be cheese."
Adrien grinned and pet his sleeping kwami's head.
I could leave this here, but I'm thinking of adding another chapter of Adrien figuring it out. And maybe he gets a little confused along the way ;)
Please leave me a review and tell me what you think and whether it needs a reveal chapter or not. xoxo
