a/n: I always thought it was funny when in episode 8 (at 9MIN 30SEC) Adrien said to Plagg "You're always thinking with your stomach." and then the episode when they are training for the game (ep 15) He stares longingly at the food her parents offer
"Marinette flopped down on her bed, tired after a long day of school. Although she was true to her duty as Ladybug, it was tiring to save Paris from constant attacks and keep her identity secret from everyone, while pretending she was an average middle school student. The mini heart attacks she -now- occasionally still got from the greek god know as Adrien Agreste did not help, but his posters smiling down at her, papered on her walls slowly lulled her into a deep sleep. It still bothered her, not knowing who the Papillion was, but she knew that Chat Noir would lend a helping emclaw/em. She giggled this time, because she secretly loved puns, but wanted to keep that cat in the bag. She sighed as her eyes took in his smiling face, his tousled hair, his impeccable fashion, and-
"Her eyes widened in fear and froze focusing on one spot. She slowly blinked, hoping that it was a spot in her vision, but lady luck ran out tonight. Adrien was the Papillion. How could she be so stupid? She stared at him all the time, but didn't notice the akumatized butterfly he wore on his shoes every single day? She was chosen to protect the city, how could she have been so blind? Just because she had a huge crush on the soft hearted model? Calm breathing helped her think. He was the only other person in the class who had never been akumatized, and so she could be sitting right behind her nemesis without knowing. It would explain why villains popped out around her like daisies, he could easily find victims when chloe easily created them around her. Really, if that girl wasn't so self absorbed and clueless, she would be the perfect villain. Tikki fluttered worriedly around Marinette.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She stared at Marinette, who was floundering on the bed.
"Tikki, do you think Adrien is the Papillion? His shoes have a black butterfly on it! I'm so clumsy and nervous around him, and I didn't notice that fact until now. He could possibly the the one person I have to defeat, and because my only talent is messing up"
"Don't worry about it now Marinette, it's not proof that he is. You are a good judge of character, and if you talk with him, I'm sure you will find out why. Let's plan tomorrow." Tikki tried to cheer he up, by nuzzling against her cheek.
"Thanks, Tikki." She nuzzled back, cupping the tiny fairy. She eventually fell asleep to the calm breathing of her little friend.
"She woke up to the blaring alarm on her phone. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and brushed her teeth before having a delicious breakfast with her mom. She showered and dressed before walking to school. She was dragging her feet, nervous about how to treat Adrien. She though he was nice, but she could no longer be sure. Her hand was tight on the clasp of her purse, worried that Tikki would be noticed, but she was resting quietly at the bottom.
"Hey girl!" Alya called to her, making her squeak and jump. Alya frowned,"You okay?"She gave a half convincing yawn, and told a white lie. "Yeah, I was just up late. I was thinking about the work I had to do." She finished with one of her sleepy smiles, praying she was convincing.
"We still on for the amusement park after class?" Nino asked Alya, "I promised Adrien I would show him how to win real prizes for his future girlfriend. No one beats my technique at the Claw Machines."
"Alya gave a grin as she leaned into Nino. "How sweet of you." She slyly peeked at Marinette to gauge her reaction to the possible date with Adrien, but to her surprise Marinette looked really distracted.
"Yoohoo, Earth to Marinette, You're coming also, right?"
"Huh? oh, y- yes, of course. I'll see you guys in homeroom."
"As Marinette slumped away, Adrien looked Alya. "Is something wrong? She isn't quite as chatty today."
"She didn't get enough sleep last night, she's just tired." Alya said, trying to convince herself more than Adrien. He nodded, apparently satisfied. Her thoughts went back to Marinette as the boys started to talk about all the arcade games they wanted to play. They slowly filed into homeroom with other students. Marinette had her tablet out, her tongue poking out like it always did when she was working on a problem. Alya snuck a peek, it was the veiw of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero.
"This is my favourite scene to sketch on bad days when I can't be there. It's super relaxing." She mused, noticing Alya's staring.
Alya nodded as the teacher walked in, and class started.
Class seemed to end really quickly for Marinette, and she absentmindedly packed her bags. She couldn't think of a good way to interrogate her crush. She wondered how she landed herself in these impossible situations. What was she going to do? Break into his room as Ladybug and demand answers? No, that would never work... would it? She gnawed at her lip. She could fake a day at the amusement park. She was Ladybug, mask or not.
"I can't do this. It's impossible. Everytime he looks at me I want to melt in a puddle, but then I remember he possibly created all the akumas, so I probably look like a constipated puppy. Alya has been giving me looks all day, I just want to get home and-

Suddenly her phone rang, bringing her out of her reverie. It was a wrong number. She sighed heavily. emThis day is just getting longer.
"Something wrong?" Alya asked
"Marinette eyes widened, and she could feel the lightbulb glow over her. "Yeah, sorry, I gotta jet, my parents need me at the bakery. I'll see you guys tomorrow!" The lie slipped out easily.
"Alya's eyes narrowed. emSomething is going on, and tomorrow she is going to tell me, or so help her.
"Yo, dude, check out that giant pikachu by the pool game. I know I can win it!" Nino dragged Adrien and Alya to the game.
"Gotta catch 'em all" Alya joked and Nino grinned at the challenge
"I'm going to try for the bow and arrow set." Adrian pulled a face. "My father chose fencing for me. Not that I don't enjoy it, but it's a little too gentlemanly to do all the time."
"Alya whipped out her phone as a joke, and started to videotape. "The mysterious Adrien has graced us with his presence. How did you manage to sneak away this time?"
He chucked. "I am allowed to leave my house to hang out with friends. I just need to give Natalie three days notice and make sure it fits into my schedule."
Alya laughed as she remembered his schedule hanging in Marinette's room. "So should we call Natalie next time when we want to schedule an appointment with you?"
"Haha." he deadpanned. "No."
"So, Nino," she turned the camera to face him,"As his best friend, does he hang out enough?"
"No way!" He answered insolently, as Adrien punched his shoulder,"Dude needs to get out more often. Look how fragile he is, all skin and bones, never getting any exercise."
"Hey man, I get out enough. Check out my white chocolate abs." Adrien flashed the camera.
Marinette will flip when she finds out she missed this Alya thought as she zoomed Maybe I should just send it now? Actually, I want to see her face when she flips.
"Karate, fencing, rock climbing, tango," ticking activities off his fingers. "oh yeah, and running."
"You take tango?" was the flabbergasted reply.
"Yeah, good for modeling and flexibility. Gotta stay limber."
"With all that and you can't dance at a club as well as me? This is beyond sad, bro."
"He's catching up." Alya hinted.
And with that, the video ended as Alya and Nino took a couple moment. Adrien rolled his eyes. He focused sharply on his prey... on his game. That bow and arrow set would be his, cause his aim is always true. Smirking at his own pun, he took his chances and shot for gold. Good thing that today he was on point.

Marinette stewed in her room, angrily eating cookies with Tikki.
"I can't believe he gets off on this, pretending to be a decent person in the day, and they just turn people into his Miraculous stealing servants by using their darkest moments against them. What nerve! I thought Chloe was the only person who did that, but really, they are soul mates. I should have know better than to trust someone who confesses in the rain. And he was trying to approach me! ME! Does that mean he thinks I'm Ladybug and is trying to find out and kidnap you, Tikki? Oh God, I wanted to get close to the jerk who was trying to kidnap you! He would have done it, and they I could no longer protect paris, and Chat Noir would be dead and it would be all my fault that the world collapsed." Marinette huffed the last part out, tired from her rant, and lay motionless on the floor. Tikki rolled a bottle of water to her, and brushed her hair near her ear.
"Hey, Mari, don't jump to conclusions, we don't know that Adrein even has powers. He could be completely normal for all we know. And when we find out, you are the most creative Ladybug, I'm sure you will find the best answer. I believe in you, and you should too."
Marinette didn't reply, but she gave a small smile and sat cross legged. She swigged the proffered water and absentmindedly ate another cookie. Her parents closed up the bakery recently, and she would be expected down for dinner any moment. She washed her face at her vanity, and put on her brightest smile, knowing that whatever happened tonight, this dinner may be the most normal one in a while.
After dinner her parents left to see a movie, so they kissed her good night. She watched the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars, and took a good shower. She dragged her feet up the stairs and indecisively looked at Tikki.
"You'll do great Marinette. Just say the words."
"Right." Her resolve returned, and her eyes steeled. "Tikki, transform!" She ran out onto her balcony, and shot off in the direction of Adrien's house in the fastest time yet. Seeing an open window she leapt in. "Adrien." She called to the lump on the bed.
"Nuh" he groaned, and flicked the light switch back on.
"You can do this. Pull yourself together. You are Ladybug right now, so act like the hero you are. He may look flawless at the moment, but he is the Papillion. Your sworn enemy. "Adrien Agreste, I now know that you are the Papillion, the enemy of Paris. I'm here to stop you."
"What! Ladybug, you can't be serious! I love you, and I love Paris. I even love school and wouldn't try to get my friends to attack each other. You look the same, so this isn't the fault of an akuma. What happened?"
"Don't try and sway me with your innocent farm boy act. I can see past your perfect façade, Papillion." She took out her yo-yo, and swung it menacingly. "Now that I figured it out, attacks are pointless. I know your identity, but you don't know mine, so hand your miraculous over to me, or resign yourself to saving Paris." That was menacing enough. Let's see what the truth is. He hung his head. "I didn't want to have to do this, because I don't want to hurt you, but you leave me no choice." Ladybug took half a step back when he raised his hand. "Plagg, Transform!"
Ladybug's yo-yo stopped spinning, and fell from her limp hands. A gurgled noise escaped her throat, and her mouth dropped. "Chat?" she said, her voice sounding strangely high. Nervous laughter started, and she couldn't stop.
"This is not what I expected when I bared my fangs." He muttered sourly.
She was now bent over double, holding her knees for support. "Haha, j-just, you're so different!" Her whole body was shaking. "I mean, from your ahahaha civilian s-self." She coughed, trying to stop more laughter, but it was hopeless.
Adrien stood there, dumbfounded. "What?" She giggled, "Cat got your tongue?" and laughed harder.
"Quit being such a pest." he muttered, after the laughter continued for too long.
"Hey." She became serious for a moment. "That is such a myth. Ladybugs get rid of insect pests in the garden." She let out a few stray snickers, and cleared her throat. "So~ this was unexpected surprise. Not bad. I mean, out of all the Parisians you could have turned out to be, this seems like fate playing tricks. A good surprise." She clarified.
"Glad it's not the cataclysm you expected." He joked. "And that my laughable identity didn't give you cataplexy."
"No, no, it was very cat-thartic." She smiled. It felt more natural joking like this in their super hero suits.
"So does the rule 'show me yours and I'll show mine' apply?"
"Nice try kitty. I figured it out all on my own. You should be able to too."
"You accused me of being the scourge of Paris, you didn't exactly figure it out." he deadpanned.
"My plan was flawless, and worked out well in the end. No matter how much I like you, it's still more fun this way."
"So you do like me, My Lady. I was beginning to worry, all for nothing." he drawled.
"He saw a light blush grace her face, but she leaned over and tugged his tail. "Don't let it go to your head." she warned. "Anyways, you have a busy day tomorrow." He raised a brow. "Probably. I'll get out of your hair and let you get some sleep." She jumped out his window, and whipped her way back home, as he stared after her retreating figure.
"Neither of them had much sleep that night. Marinette wondered what he meant when he said he loved her, and Adrien wondered who she was. When sleep did come, it was relaxing and dreamless.
"I hope it's not a secret for much longer"

A/n: somehow some weird thing happened to my writing, it added all this HTML code. strange. I deleted it now.