Ladybug was concerned. Chat wasn't doing his usual banter. He hadn't flirted, complimented her, called her "my lady", or even dropped a pun. She gazed at him, worried as he leapt half heartedly across a gap they ran over all the time, and her heart plummeted when he didn't do any sort of flip with it. She knew why he was feeling down but she wasn't supposed to. 'Play this carefully Mari.'

She stopped on the next roof and he halted as well, his face downcast. "Chat what's wrong?" She asked playing innocent.

He jumped slightly, looking at her guiltily. "Nothing. I'm fine."

Ladybug sighed and glared at him. "Chat that's a crock of shit. I know you. Talk to me."

He sighed and leaned against the chimney, sitting down against it. "I don't want to talk about it." He said miserably.

Ladybug crouched in front of him. "Fine. Then what do you want to talk about?"

Chat refused to look up. "I want to go home and wallow in self hatred."

Mari sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well that's not an option. Let me help."

Chat slammed his eyes shut. "Please don't push me on this." he pleaded.

Ladybug felt sick to her stomach. 'Stick to Tikki's plan. Change the topic.' She told herself. "Ok. Let's talk about something else."

"Sure." he sighed. "What do you want to talk about?"

She began to blush behind her mask. "Well…. I wanted to ask you some questions actually." He gave her a very confused look. Her blush increased, not that he knew that. "It struck me yesterday that… I don't actually know much about you. It's weird because we see each other almost every day." Chat's mouth fell open. She closed it for him.

This was not what he had expected from tonight. He had almost kissed Marinette and now Ladybug actually wanted to get to know him? A small smile worked its way onto his face. "What do you want to know my lady?"

Ladybug smiled slightly. At least he was calling her lady again. "I don't know… Just tell me something about you. The little things. How old are you? What's your favorite color? Anything." He paused, contemplating.

"I turn 17 next week, I don't sleep as much as I probably should, and my favorite color is blue. Like your eyes." 'And Marinette's eyes.' He cringed at that last thought. Ladybug blushed again. Fortunately he was too busy kicking himself mentally that he didn't notice.

"What about you bugaboo?" He asked softly. She shivered at the nickname, but it was a happy shiver. "I'm 17 now, I also don't sleep very well and my favorite color is pink." He glanced at her.

"Pink would look good on you." he said softly.

"I wouldn't mind seeing you in pink either kitty cat." She grinned back.

He laughed. "I bet you would." He said playfully. She smiled. He seemed to be relaxing. They stared out over Paris a few moments before she asked a question. "Chat do… Have you had a lot of girlfriends. As your alter ego?" She adamantly looked away from him as she asked, but she could feel his gaze on her.

"No. I never have."

She turned to him, trying to hide her shock. "Really? Zero?"

"You seem surprised." He said.

"Well you're always flirting with me." She pointed out. "And Marinette told me that when she helped you out it was almost all flirting." He twitched at her name, and had she not been looking for it, she might have missed it.

"Yeah… I don't really flirt with anyone else. Just you and Marinette I suppose. And as for my alter-ego… I'm not sure I would even have time for a girlfriend. Also I'm a complete wreck as my alter ego. I keep up a facade, but in reality…" He sighed. "I'm not doing great. But I have to keep up that wall." He said sadly. "Without it I doubt my father…" He trailed off.

"What about your father?" she asked softly.

"It's nothing. I don't want to give away too much. Keep our lives separate right?" He sounded bitter.

"Yeah…" She said. "You do understand right?"

He tilted his head back and looked at the stars. "Yeah I do." Suddenly he turned to face her. "Do you remember when you were about to change in front of me and you asked I not look?" She nodded. "That was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I wanted to know so badly, and you were right there."

"But you didn't." She whispered.

Chat sighed, and looked out across the Paris skyline. "I didn't." He agreed. "I respected your decision. Though my Kwami refused to let me hear the end of it for months."

Marinette smiled weakly. "I see." She looked out over Paris again. "Maybe one day." Chat just nodded and stared off into space. She stole a glance at him. The sharpness usually present in his eyes had seemingly faded, and it made her heart ache.

Marinette was angry at herself. 'Why the hell is my determination fading now?' She thought angrily. 'Get it together you idiot. It's better this way.' But Chat's attitude was breaking her. "Chat…" She began again. "Why do you only flirt with the two of us?"

"I thought it was obvious with you." he murmured. Marinette's heart twinged in guilt. 'It's still just because he looks like Adrien. It doesn't actually mean anything.' She told herself. 'But it does.' A voice argued back. She sighed and didn't respond. "As for Marinette… it's always been strictly platonic. Until tonight apparently." He hadn't meant the last part to come out and his eyes widened in horror.

"Chat… Is that why you've been so depressed today? What happened?"

"I can't." He forced out, standing up abruptly. "I'm never going to visit her again so it doesn't matter. I shouldn't have done it in the first place. So I'm just going to leave a note apologizing and then I'm going to go home. See you tomorrow night." And with that he leapt off of the roof and began sprinting away from her and towards her actual identity. An idea began to form in her head. She didn't want Chat to stop visiting Marinette but maybe it was for the best.

Before she could try to talk herself out of it, she took off after Chat, hoping to get to her house before he did.

XxXxXxXx

By some miracle she did manage to beat him to her house. She assumed he'd paused to do something or other and she'd hurried home, taking out her earrings and quickly climbing into bed, ready to make sure Chat didn't leave her life as Marinette. She had quickly informed Tikki about her plan. She had misgivings but it was the best option at the moment. And so there Marinette lay, waiting for her partner to show up. After about fifteen minutes, she heard her balcony door open, creaking slightly. She heard him move quietly past her bed to her desk.

She heard him begin to write something down on a piece of paper. She pretended to stir in her "sleep". "Chat?" She asked, reaching over and turning on her light. She almost laughed at his face. He looked shocked, and extremely guilty. "It would appear I have a cat in my apartment for the second time tonight." She teased. She pretended to notice the pen in his hand. "What are you writing?" She asked eyebrows raised. Before he could think of a reasonable explanation, she snatched the piece of paper off of the desk. Her heart went into overdrive at what it said.

Dear Marinette,

I extend my deepest apologies. I know you didn't want my affections, and I know I can never expect forgiveness. And even if you did, not only would I probably not accept it, I have been incredibly selfish in visiting you here anyways. It puts you in danger, and I don't want you to get hurt, least of all because of me. So please know I am very sorry for what transpired last night and that you will never have to see my face again.

Sinc

The letter had not yet been signed. She swallowed and looked up at Chat Noir, who was fidgeting, trying not to look at her. "Chat. Why would you do this?" She asked softly. She knew exactly why, but she had to keep up the innocent civilian act.

Chat shifted awkwardly, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "Princess my very presence here is bad enough. I practically ooze bad luck. I just don't want you to get hurt. And then I almost kissed you… I shouldn't be doing that. Not with you, not with anyone. I can't." A pause.

"I almost kissed you too." She whispered.

His head snapped up to look at her. 'Those eyes…' She shook her head to clear the thought of his eyes. 'His beautiful green eyes.' She paused, feeling her cheeks heat up. 'Great.' She thought. "Chat I don't want you to leave. I like being with you. You're fun to talk to and I enjoy your company. The almost kiss… I didn't know how to react. I wanted to kiss you too. And I just panicked. I'm sorry."

Chat shook his head. "It's not your fault Mari. I crossed the line." 'But I wanted you to cross that line.' She thought, heart pounding. She almost voiced that thought. Almost.

'But do you have the courage to cross that line as well?' Tikki's voice asked her.

'Don't you dare.' A voice snarled. She didn't recognize it.

'Do it. You know you want to.'

'What about Adrien?'

'Kiss him too!'

'That's not how that works!'

'Sure it is. You want to kiss Chat Noir. And hey if your luck holds true maybe they're the same person.'

Marinette suddenly couldn't breathe. The thought that had flitted across her mind was now permanently lodged in her kind. 'NO. I can't do this to myself. Or to Adrien. But what if he is?' She shook her head and stared at Chat Noir. They were so similar. Their physical appearance was so much the same. But their personalities… She frowned. They were so different. There was no way. She swallowed. Not tonight. Nothing would be solved tonight.

She cleared her throat. "Chat I want you to come back. Do not distance yourself from me. I can handle myself. Now. I want you to be back here… Thursday night. Six days from now. Understand?"

Chat smiled weakly. "Yes princess Mari." He bowed and walked to the balcony. "See you on Thursday." He gave her his two finger salute, though it seemed sluggish, and he disappeared into the night.

As soon as he left, Tikki flew out of her bag and flew in front of her, glaring at her.

"What?" Mari asked.

Tikki looked displeased. "You cannot do that!" She growled.

"What?" Mari asked, confused.

Tikki sighed. "You can not want to uncover his identity without him knowing yours. I saw the look you were giving him. That's not fair to him, especially after what you told him."

"I know ok! I won't tell him."

"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" The little Kwami finally shouted. Mari recoiled in shock.

Tikki took a deep breath and flew a quick circle around Mari's bed. "Sorry Mari. I just… Don't completely understand why you can't just tell him. That poor boy is desperately in love with your superhero side, and now he's falling in love with Marinette. No wonder he's so torn up. And you keep lying to him about it. I know you think it's a byproduct of Adrien but what if. If! What if it's the other way around?"

Marinette suddenly couldn't breathe again. "Tikki you can't say that you can't."

The kwami glared at her. "I'll say whatever I want and this has been a long time coming. You are falling for Chat Noir. And you know it. You need to tell him. And soon. Otherwise his conflict between your two personalities might tear him to pieces. Figure it out." And with that, Tikki flew into Mari's bag and refused to come out.

A/N: Poor conflicted kitty. I care for him so much. Look at that sunshine child. He needs love and affection.

Edited! Hooray! :D Hope you liked it!

Until Next Time!

~Nebilas~