The moment he was free—after school and everything else—Adrien shut himself in his room and transformed.

He was going to call Ladybug, but he already had a message from her to meet up a few rooftops down from the bakery after sundown. "I guess this is actually happening now," he said to himself.

Chat Noir didn't even bother waiting till sundown. He got a head-start and even bought a few pastries before hunkering down on a rooftop and trying to soothe his nerves by stuffing his face. The empty box was still open beside him when Ladybug showed up thirty minutes later.

She didn't miss a beat. "Aww, you didn't save me any?"

Chat blushed under his mask. "Sorry, didn't think about it."

"I was kidding." Ladybug laughed and moved the box, sitting where it had been. "I didn't take you for a stress-eater," she remarked.

"Who said I was stress-eating?" he asked with indignation.

She pointed to his twitching belt-tail. "Your tail, for starters."

Chat's face grew red again, and he tried to change the subject. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, a couple of things," she said, her smile fading. "First, I wanted to ask what's been bothering you."

He took a deep breath and leaned back against the chimney wall. It took him a bit to work up the courage to speak. "Do you remember—a couple of weeks ago, when we'd just finished fighting an akuma—how I stuck around till I was super close to transforming, and then I bolted?"

Ladybug nodded.

"I…" He looked away from her when he felt tears welling up. "I screwed up. I didn't give myself enough time to make sure no one could see, and someone got a video."

Ladybug didn't even bother trying to fake surprise or anger. Instead, she wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "That's…" She sighed. "That's actually the second thing I wanted to talk about."

Chat jerked from her grasp, actual terror in his eyes. "What? She said she wouldn't post it!"

"Calm down, Minou," she said, turning to face him. "She didn't. And I'm not mad at you."

He visibly calmed, but still looked upset. "I wouldn't blame you if you were."

She smiled and shook her head. "I'm not. I'm just worried about you beating yourself up over it. And I'm glad that of all the people in Paris, Alya was the only one who found out."

"So she told you?" Chat asked, still appearing guilt-ridden. She doesn't know that Marinette also knows.

Ladybug could feel her heart pounding now. "Yes… and no." Seeing his look of confusion, she clarified. He needed to know. More than that, she needed to tell him. "She told me, but… she didn't know she was telling Ladybug."

She hoped he could draw conclusions from there, but if not, she had mentally prepared for a frank confession.

He stared at her for a solid five seconds, his face flushing once more. "M-Marinette?"

Ladybug nodded, hesitant to see his reaction.

She'd half-expected the hug, but not the breathy, "Oh, thank god," muttered in her ear.

Chat squeezed her a little tighter as he added, "I am so sorry."

Ladybug hugged him back, replying, "It's fine, Chat. Just be more careful, okay?"

He nodded; then he released her and sat back. "What do you think of Alya knowing who we both really are?"

Ladybug squirmed a little. "It would be nice to have someone else to talk to about it… but I don't want to put her in danger."

Chat shrugged. "It doesn't have to be today or tomorrow. Just make sure it's you that tells her." He smiled. "It's better if she hears it from you."

She nodded. "I'll think about it. My kwami said it's better if fewer people know."

Chat stood and stretched. "Well, technically, she's already in the loop, so it wouldn't change the number of people." Then he bent and reached past Ladybug to grab his empty pastry box, winking as his face got close to hers.

As soon as the shock passed, she laughed. "You are incorrigible."

He laughed in response. "Well, it is very difficult to train a cat."

She stood as well and nudged him with an elbow. "Go home, Chaton. You've had a long week."

Chat grinned and took off, dropping the pastry box in a public trash can on the way.

Ladybug made her way back to her own rooftop before dropping down into her bed and transforming back. She lay back with a sigh. "I've had a long week."

Aaand, that's it. Sorry it's not longer, but I tend to keep my reveal fics to just the reveal and everyone's reactions. Nino didn't get to find out in this one, but he'll survive.

Thanks for all the reviews and support!