Author's note: This is not a traditional fan fiction but rather the product of taking the entire text from a roleplay between HuneyBun and me, editing and tweaking a few things, and posting it here. I'm not sure if that's cheating. Anyway, recently, we made it to the one-year anniversary of the start of our roleplay together so I decided to collect up all of the text from the roleplay and post here for the world to see! We accumulated over 450,000 words worth of text. It is important to keep in mind that is was originally a roleplay to begin so expect inconsistencies in responses and overall plot (for most of it happened to be improvised on the spot). Still, I hope you find it entertaining.

THAT WHICH TIME CANNOT BREAK

Chapter 1

Paris, that night, had been so quiet that it bothered Chat Noir so much that he could not get himself to stay still. He had to keep moving, hoping that he'd find any kind of danger. Anything that would give him an excuse to have to go looking for Ladybug.

He soared over buildings without thinking about it. He'd practiced so much on his own that it became second nature. The very act of extending his baton and vaulting through the evening air kept his sanity intact.

Even up above the unsuspecting Parisians, his thoughts never left him. He often found himself distracted. The therapeutic stroll around the city left him tenser afterward.

He tried to avoid going down streets that brought ever more thoughts to his head, strictly seeking out the corners of the city that he had not spent a lot of time around.

Though, he lost his focus while he was in there air. Each motion carried itself out through pure muscle memory. The path he took determined itself purely on his memories.

When he looked up, he realized where he was headed and regained control before it was too late, landing on a balcony. Sure, the landing could've been more graceful but at least no-one had seen him.

Right?

He brushed himself and glanced about, only now noticing the blue-haired girl sitting on a chair with a sketchbook in hand. He blinked as if he had not yet been seen but greeted her with a shy hand raising upwards and waving, a boyish grin on his face, "Oh, hello there."

"Good evening, Chat Noir," the girl replied, not looking up quite yet.

He played off his charm, leaning against his baton that extended out equal to his height, "Yes, it is a good evening, isn't it? Perfect night for patrols, which I am obviously on. I saw your balcony light on, so I thought I'd swing by and meow a hello."

Marinette smiled softly at him. "In that case, hello. It's nice to see you too. How has patrol been treating you?"

"It's proven to be mostly uneventful and... after a period of reflection, somewhat lonely. So, I looked for a friendly face and found yours. I haven't spoken to Ladybug at all today, actually, so I don't know if I should be worried or not."

"Well, I do enjoy the company. Do you want anything to eat while you're here?" she asked, trying to be nice enough, before going on, "And... You know, I think Ladybug is fine. Maybe she's just taking a day off while all is well?"

"I would enjoy a cookie or two if you have them. I am quite hungry, having leaped around a bit this evening," he said, "And yes, that's certainly possible. She's earned a bit of rest. She does so much and it's wonderful."

"Alright, I'll go grab them." she stood from her seat to go inside, going to grab cookies, "Yeah, you two make a great team. You could both use some downtime sometimes."

"I hope that we do. I tell her that all the time but sometimes she takes it as just mindless flirting. How can she not be charmed by this face?"

She set the cookies down for him to eat, resuming her spot in the chair, "Maybe it just comes off as mindless flirting sometimes?" she offered, trying to act as oblivious as possible during the conversation.

He took a cookie and tasted it, "Ah, but all I want her to see is just how much my heart really goes out to her. She's wonderful in so many ways!"

"Hmm..." Marinette was quiet for a minute, before speaking again, "She might just be scared, you know, to get too close to someone who she doesn't know beyond a guy in a mask?"

"I've told her that I wouldn't mind revealing my identity to her. Who knows? There's always that slim chance we know each other? And then, maybe it would be easier for her."

"I don't know, Chat... Revealing your identities to each other could be dangerous. And, if you do know each other, there's a chance it could change how you work together."

He sighed, slouching slightly, "Yes, I'm aware... Still... Oh, I wish it could be different between us. I mean... just the prospect of me meeting her outside the mask is a dream to me. What if I do and I don't realize it? Oh, but that's highly unlikely, right?"

Marinette listened to him... She felt kind of bad, but she didn't want to risk either of them. There was a moment of silence before she just laughed it off, "Yeah, I doubt that you'd accidentally meet her, out of everyone in Paris."

He shifted, putting more weight on his baton, "Yeah, unfortunately. Besides, it's not like we would end up going to the same school or something entirely ironic like that but... there's actually quite a few benefits to knowing each other."

She arched a brow curiously. She'd only really focused on what the risks could be, "What do you mean? What benefits could there be?" she asked, hoping that didn't seem too nosey.

"Well, if there ever came a time either of us would have needed to know something personal about the other, we would have that. Also, we'd have an easier time communicating, perhaps? We could coordinate a bit better. And overall companionship that I'm not sure being Chat Noir is doing for her."

Marinette blinked. She hadn't really thought of any of that. She stood up after he had finished, "You know... Those are some pretty good points, Chat. Maybe... Maybe you should try telling her that?" she asked casually, "Want me to get you anything to drink with the cookies?" she asked, her voice betraying a touch of urgency. She wanted to consult with Tikki, but couldn't really do that with him right in front of her.

He perked up slightly, "You think so? So, then, maybe it'll be enough to ease her into the idea. And then I'd finally know who my bug-a-boo is!" he said, clasping his hands together warmly, "Oh, heh, I'd love some milk, if you don't mind."

She nodded, before turning to step back inside. "Yep, those were my exact thoughts."

She was immediately having a hushed conversation with Tikki over what the two had just spoken about while going to grab a glass of milk.

Chat took a seat on a chair and quietly thought about what Ladybug's reactions to his words might have been if he said anything about it. That, however, was a major risk.

What if it backfired and even more firmly set her on the idea of anonymity?

Mari had taken Chat's words into consideration. If revealing each other went well, then they could work better. She leaned more toward revealing it. She paused once she was back in her room, to hear Tikki's opinion, "Marinette, if you want to reveal your identities to each other, then I'll fully support you!" Tikki spoke quietly. Marinette came back outside, holding the glass out, "One cup of milk for the kitten." she told him with a smirk.

"Thank you so much, Marinette. For the snack and the advice, truly," he said taking it and drinking from the glass.

She smiled, sitting back in the other chair, "It was no problem. It's always nice to have a friend around."

By now, she would be okay with revealing her identity. She just had to figure out how to word it out, "So, do you really, fully think it's a good idea for you and Ladybug to know each other's identities?"

"I think so, yes. It would much more reassuring to know who my bug-a-boo is. It's not that I don't trust her but I'm sometimes afraid that she doesn't trust me so maybe if I were to show her who I really was, she'd know I was really sincere about what we do."

"Huh? Chat, I can promise that she trusts you."

There was a pause. It was now or never. "Uh- Tikki!" She called, and soon enough, the small kwami was floating over to the two of them. Marinette looked terrified of his reaction, freezing up now. "Uh- Er- Surprise?"

Chat stared at her, eyes shaking and trying to make sense of this sudden drop of information, "M-Mari... You're... You're my... ladybug?" his voice was just above a whisper.

Marinette didn't move. She was hoping this didn't mess them up, "I was scared to tell you before... Sorry if you're upset..." Her voice was soft, and she cast her eyes to the ground.

He rose carefully, putting a hand out to her, "No, no. I'm not upset... I... I'm just surprised... I... You were right here in front of me and I was completely clueless. M-Mari... Oh, how could... I'm so blind."

Marinette looked up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "In your defense, I was trying not to reveal myself to you. It was kind of hard at some points." she smiled softly, trying to lighten the mood the best she could.

"I-I know... and trust me, I understand why you would be hesitant. It was a justified belief... Oh, but... Mari... You have no idea how much of an idiot I feel because... Oh... You've yet to see who I am and I'm not sure how you might react."

"You don't have to feel like an idiot at all, kitten," she then stood, taking his hand briefly. "I promise that, whoever you are, we'll be fine. I trust you," she promised, before letting go of his hand.

He swallowed but nodded at her affirmation, "Okay..." he said, preparing to transform, "Here goes nothing." The green energy of his transformation dissipating, leaving a newly appeared Plagg and Adrien in Chat's place. He stood and looked at her, "Hi, Mari."

Marinette had been mentally preparing for whoever was behind the mask. And, well, when the boy who she was in love with appeared, she was speechless. She finally managed to get a word out, speaking quietly. "...Adrien?"

He nodded, "Yes. It's me. I'm Chat Noir..." he said, as to not frighten her with this reveal any more than he already had.

Once everything had managed to semi-process through her mind, she managed to properly speak, "That was... unexpected. I'm glad that it's you, though."

"You're... not scared... or... well... I guess it couldn't be possible that you would be disappointed to see me of all people but... I hope this doesn't change how you think of me. I doubt you would have ever thought I was capable of so many puns."

Marinette shook her head, chuckling, "It doesn't change how I think of you at all, so long as you're still my kitty," she teased, "Though, I still don't know how you can make all those puns."

He smiled, reaching and taking her hand like she had done a moment before, "Always, bug-a-boo. I'll never stop," he said before letting it go, "You can thank Plagg for the jokes. When he's not eating Camembert, he's talking puns or complaining about not having cheese."

Marinette gave his hand a small squeeze as she heard him, before letting go, "Really? Well then. Hello Plagg. Thank you, for all those puns I had to hear," she didn't sound angry but smiled at the cat kwami. Tikki, meanwhile, had mostly been hiding back but she had quickly flown over to see Plagg now.

The cat kwami bounced in the air, "You're welcome," he said, as if he took pride in it, "When you've accompanied Chat Noirs throughout history, you make a list. You know, now that Adrien's mentioned cheese, you got any here?"

Adrien eyed the kwami, "Plagg, we're still guests. Have some manners. And I suppose, hello to you, Tikki?"

Marinette seemed more than thrilled over another kwami, "I don't think we have any Camembert, but I might have cheddar?" She suggested.

Tikki seemed interested in seeing Plagg again, but looked up when she heard Adrien. She flew up to him, "Hi, Adrien! It's nice to properly meet you. Marinette's told me a lot about you and-" Tikki was cut off by Marinette, whose cheeks were twinging with pink.

"I'm going to go get that cheese now... You can come inside if you want. It's getting cold out here," she told them, moving to go back inside.

Adrien followed into Marinette's room and watched the kwamis fly until it was just the two of them. At that point, he turned to Marinette, "Mari... I hope you're not upset with me for having gone so long and not giving you the proper attention you deserve."

Marinette turned to him, coming to a stop, "Adrien, I'm not upset with you at all. I don't think I could be mad at you, anyway."

"Alright. That's good, still, I feel somewhat jerk-like for having been so oblivious," he said, "So, please, let me make it up to you," he said, taking her hand and smiling hopefully.

She watched as he took her hand, before smiling back. "If you really feel the need to, but none of it was your fault. I feel like I should have known it was you too."

He shook his head, "Nah, I would guess it was difficult to even understand anything about me seeing how I was often gone without a trace at a moment's notice. I barely juggled being Chat at some moments," he said, gliding his thumb across the top of her hand.

She gave his hand a small squeeze, "If you ever want, I could cover so you can have a break from Chat on some days. It wouldn't be too much of an issue," she told him, looking up to meet his eyes.

He smiled, looking away, "No, that's fine. Just knowing you are beside me is enough for me. You need a partner who will stay beside you no matter the reason. I want to be that partner."

Her heart easily melted by those words, "I don't think I can begin to tell you how happy that makes me, Adrien. It's nice to know that I'll have you to work with from now on."

"Likewise, you're the only person who met me and didn't see nothing but a famous model. You saw Adrien Agreste, someone everybody else overlooked. I can't thank you enough for that."