A/N: sorry for not updating lately guys, I've been feeling very under the weather. This is what I had the energy to write. I also stopped to watch live coverage of the SoCal earthquake, so sorry if this isn't great.

Chapter Seven

Adrien had an inkling about Ladybug's identity. What with her fierce protection of Marinette, her knowledge of Marinette's innermost thoughts, and her awareness of Marinette and Chat Noir's conversations, it was almost impossible to miss the connection between the two girls. He didn't have time to think about what he was about to do; he just did it. As Ladybug swung off into the distance, he said, "Plagg, claws out."

He watched from just one rooftop over as Ladybug's feet touched down on the roof of Marinette's parent's bakery and home. He watched her slip down through the trap door and into Marinette's room. If Ladybug is not Marinette, then I will see her leave. If Ladybug is Marinette…He let his thoughts trail off as he sat for roughly 30 minutes, waiting for his Lady to appear. When she didn't, he braced himself and knocked on the trap door. A little over a minute later, Marinette cautiously opened the door to him, allowing him inside. He glanced around the room, and, just as he thought, there was no sign of Ladybug. But he had to find a way to check in the closet she'd hidden him in when he was in her room. Before he could say anything, she put a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand if you're mad," she started. "But I really did make the website for you. I'd been working on it long before I had the notion of showing Adrien. Yes, I was angry with you for your accusations, and yes," she paused, breathing in before she continued. "I approved the article 'Two-Timing Tomcat.' I'm sorry, alright? I wanted to fix it, but my account got hacked, and Ladybug is working to find out who wrote the article so she can ask them to take it down."

"And I forgive you. I promise. Also…I have a confession to make," he said, knowing how big a risk he was about to take. "I…I'm the one who hacked your account. Hear me out," he stuttered at the look of indignation on her face. "That article was slander, and I needed to do damage control. I already removed it." He hated to admit his part in this. He was just glad he didn't have to explain how he, as Adrien, had called Max and had him hack the website, disabling the "current administrator" (he didn't want to give away Marinette's name) and allowing him administrative duties because, as he had told Max, he wanted to "clear Chat Noir's name." "Don't worry about my having control of the website anymore, though. I deleted my account a couple days ago, so you can probably log back on now."

She was too stunned to glare at him, and she supposed she did deserve whatever retribution was coming her way. She also couldn't reveal that she was angry at him for just going along with her plan to fix the mess when they were at Adrien's house, because that was with Ladybug. She seethed quietly, turning on her computer. As she went to sit down, Chat bumped into her desk chair. Hard. She heard her parents stirring downstairs, and she quickly shoved him back in that closet. He peeked around; no Ladybug. When Marinette was sure her parents weren't coming to check on her, she opened the closet door again and sat back down at her computer. Chat stood in awe, watching the girl he was 99% sure was Ladybug. So this is how she clicks her mouse, he thought. This is how Ladybug acts when she's angry. It made him all the more lovelorn, though he knew he couldn't reveal his thoughts to her.

"Hey," he spoke up suddenly. "You should tell Adrien the good news soon."

"Good news?" she scoffed.

"Yeah, that your account was hacked by me and not some scary cyber thief, and that the article is gone now." He tried to put on a happy face to encourage her.

"I guess so—what the heck!" she whisper-screamed, putting her face closer to her computer screen as she read something. "Did you post this article, Chat?" She turned around, revealing that the screen said "Ladybug's Lover?" with a photograph of what was clearly Adrien Agreste kissing Ladybug's cheek. It'd been posted just an hour ago.

"No?" he said, leaning in further to read it himself. "Someone else must be the admin now, because I deleted my account, remember?"

"Or…" she began, closing her eyes in frustration. "It could be the auto-post function that happens after a few days pass with no moderation. I forgot about that. I thought for sure the website would lose popularity when I wasn't approving the posts, but posts still go through, with or without me."

"Well you can remove the article, right? Since you're an admin again?" Chat tried to sound hopeful.

"Not before it reaches the mainstream news. Looks like it already has," she said, pulling up the news website, which featured the article. She clicked play on a live video.

Nadja Chamack was facing the screen with her microphone. "It seems now we know why Ladybug never responded to Chat Noir's confession; she's taken! And by none other than model Adrien Agreste, no less. Stay tuned for more updates on Paris's superheroes!"

"Great," Marinette muttered. "Now Adrien's in danger!"

"Or worse," Chat Noir gulped to himself. "In trouble with his dad!"

It's settled, Marinette thought to herself. I can't visit Adrien as Ladybug anymore.

Chat Noir hurried home and lay in his bed, wondering if—when—his father would come looking for him. He stayed up all night, expecting his father to burst into his room, but instead, he received a phone call at the crack of dawn. When he answered, his father didn't even bother to say hello.

"Is it true? That you're involved with…Ladybug?" The name sounded like venom coming from him.

"We're just friends, Father."

"Well, whatever you two are…" Gabriel seemed to think it over. "I think it would be good publicity." What Adrien didn't know was that Gabriel's Hawkmoth side was considering the pros of being so close to Ladybug.

"Wait, what?" Adrien was indignant. "You want me to be with Ladybug just for publicity?"

Gabriel sighed. "What I'm saying is that I give your relationship my blessing. Just don't do anything crazy while I'm gone. Good grief, are those bags under your eyes?"

"Where are you?" Adrien asked, suddenly aware that his father was not home.

"I'm on a promo trip…New York. I'll be home in a few days." And with that, he hung up.

Adrien grabbed his belongings in preparation for what would likely be a long, sleepy school day. Still, he was happy to see Marinette—Ladybug—and tell her the good news. But as he stepped onto the first step to his school, he was snatched up into the air by a giant hand.

IMPORTANT! A/N: I can't decide if I should write in the two fantastic scenes I still have in my head or save those for a fic that isn't as bad as this one…let me know in the reviews what you think! Honestly this fic is already a dumpster fire anyway since I can't remember half the necessary info to write new scenes lol (me in my head when I am writing: "Wait…does he know that yet? Guess I gotta go reread the whole thing.").