A/N: I'm sorry for the delay. A cold gave me headaches for days so I couldn't finish this chapter as fast as I wanted and I'm still worried if I could done it better ...

10.

One day later Alya couldn't believe yet what happened. But she was beginning to grasp on the whole story of Marinette being Ladybug. Somehow she would wrap her mind around this crazy idea, even if her life had been turned upside-down because of this. Everything she had believed was different now, maybe better - hopefully better than before.
Alya had always wanted to meet Ladybug in person, the amazing girl behind the mask. But she had never bothered what she would do after revealing her identity. Not only once.
But she already knew the amazing girl behind Ladybug, quiet well, she would say. But now a billion of new questions, tasks and challenges exploded in her mind, making her head swim with thoughts and her fingers tingle with anticipation.
She had so many unexpected things to do now!
Besides helping their best friends by using her Ladyblog as a weapon and a shield at the same time. She could influence the Parisians opinions easily, nothing would stop her except her conscience.
And after this she would face the almost impossible truth of Adrien being Chat. She'd never anticipated that he hid such a energetic and jovial side. Well, considering his ramrod dad, she would have hidden it as well.
"Good evening, you two."
Alya jerked at the voice. She had completely forgotten the place and the time.
They had been waiting at the front door of the ever so huge and cold Agreste Mansion. As Alya tried to calm down her ever so busy mind, Marinette waited patiently for the security cameras to check on them.
„Hello, Natalie. Those are for you." Marinette greeted Adrien's manager with a warm smile and gave her a basket of chocolate cookies. "I'm grateful that you always watch over us."
"Adrien is getting better with the chocolate ornaments, isn't he?" She laughed, a sound Alya never thought Natalie was capable to make.
"He's trying hard to please you."
Flustered the manager let them through the house although Marinette clearly knew her way around. Alya would have been lost though, she'd never invaded it further than the front hall.
„You don't have to worry about being disturbed," Natalie explained. „Mr. Agreste is out of town this weekend."
As usual, Alya scoffed silently.
„Thanks, Natalie."
Alya wanted to ask all her questions at once but she pulled herself together. The way Marinette carried herself and easily chatted with Adrien's manager showed clearly that she wasn't a stranger to these situations.
Natalie waved them goodbye. "Don't worry you can play as loud and as long as you want. I've managed to clear his plans after finishing that photoshoot for a family brand." Marinette knitted her brows as if the manager brought up an unpleasant topic but stayed silent. "Have a nice weekend, kids."
Still, so many unanswered questions to solve.

Alya wondered how often she had visited Adrien's room in the last years. Chamber would describe it better. It was still overbearing, grand and full of luxury some teenagers dreamt of. Nevertheless Adrien had always fled from here.
Just this once they were meeting at this spot, since Marinette's parents would definitely sneak up to them and take a look at the teenagers. They had to avoid two accidental reveals in a row.
Today she noticed a bunch of changes inside the prince's chamber as if Adrien forgot to tidy up before his friends arrived. Or as if he didn't bother to hide them anymore. A pink controller rested next to Adrien's black one, obviously Marinette's. Cushions were spread everywhere, in front of the glass wall, on his desk - each had a small dent in the middle, so Alya figured Plagg loved to take a cat nap on them. Tikki flew out of Marinette's bag and settled on the cushion in front of the window where the last rays of sunlight colored everything in a warm orange shade.
A stack of designing books lazily draped over the coffee table which Marinette closed carefully before packing them away.
Her friend had already left her traces.
„What is this?" Alya pointed at one end of the room where boxes and envelopes stacked up.
„I'm calling it fabric dump." Marinette laughed. „These are samples of clothing companies which were send to Adrien last month. We're figuring out what to do with them, although he insists that I take the loose fabric for my next designs."
"Last month?"
"Yes, it tends to pile up by itself. He's is obliged to wear some of them because of his contracts but the bigger part goes to charity organizations."
Suddenly she remembered all those charity stuff Chat Noir liked to aid. He had never made a big deal of it, as if the press shouldn't take a whiff of it.
"Is it okay to be here without Adrien?" Alya looked around warily. Either the guy was showering or if he had to jog from the other side of the mansion first.
"Sure. He'll show up any minute." Marinette wandered off to the huge desk that occupied almost a complete wall. Since when did he expanded his equipment so much? Despite all the fancy stuff Adrien's work station looked like a base of operations. Like some futuristic bat cave ... Cat cave ... Cat condo? She had to ask him if their superhero base carried a specific name.
With a gentle touch the screens woke up and Adrien's system set into motion. At first it looked like a ordinary computer, a bit untidy, icons for data and apps everywhere, until Marinette opened an app with an icon that was shaped as a black cat.
Then the real superhero operation system popped up.
Afterwards Alya couldn't remember how she teleported into the next chair. Instead she took a couple of minutes to gaze in amazement.
At first Alya had shrugged off Marinette's and the kwami's explanations. Magic as old as time, the epic struggle for the good's triumph? She was still assimilating this. However, this computer in front of her made absolute sense, analysis of akumas, patrol schedules, records of Alya-didn't-know-what and new tabs popping up regularly with the latest Parisian news - this was her field of work.
The moment Alya tried to touch the screens the image a of a lock appeared symbolizing that she had been shut out.
„Adrien made you an account for now, I'll show you how to log in." Marinette shook her head. „Sorry about this, but he doesn't want to give you administrative power over his brain child."
"It's alright, I've really fucked up." Alya strechted her fingers. "But I'm smarter than him. He's going to beg me that I'll work with him together. For now I'll gladly use his data center to evaluate my survey. Just wait and see!"
Marinette smiled at her enthusiasm.

As a millionth times before Adrien swung through the bedroom window that he had left open on purpose. Landing on his feet with cat-grace Plagg didn't wait any longer to release his transformation.
With a yelp Nino crashed into the floor. "This was amazing!," he yelled. "Freaking amazing!"
Adrien helped his friend stand up but Nino's knee wobbled at first so he took him right the sofa where Marinette was sketching.
Plagg settled right beside Tikki muttering something about exhaustion.
At last Adrien discovered Alya working aptly with his computers. Instead of Marinette who dropped her sketch book the moment she saw his green magic flash, Alya didn't flinch at their arrival. Lady Wifi lived up to her reputation.
"Can we race to school like this every day?" Nino asked.
"I'm afraid, not." Besides promising to teach his friend some basic stuff Adrien fetched him at the end of his evening patrol. Still transformed he had taken the aerial route back home; carrying Nino on his back. His friend had clutched for his dear life at first but yelled and screamed with glee soon.
"Maybe on special occasions?" Nino didn't give up easily.
Adrien laughed at this suggestion.
Nino sat up straight. "Maybe on my birthday, bro? Please say yes, that would be awesome."
"Sure. Your birthday is fine." He glanced to Marinette who nodded encouragingly. "Or even a bigger tour, we could sneak into La Machine."
"Yessss!" Nino threw a fist into the air. Clubbing would never be the same with Chat Noir at his side, especially since supermodel Adrien had to be careful which gossip reporter could track him.
Adrien lend down to his girlfriend grazing her lips with a soft peck. Showing their relationship more openly was definitely the best that yesterday's hassle brought up.
"I'm a bit jealous right now." Alya turned from her work to face them, but she didn't catch Nino's tinged cheeks since he related her statement to the little hello kiss. "You're computer efficiency is like a wish come true."
"Figures."
Before she could explain her results, another voice interrupted them.
"Good evening, my dear children."

"Master Fu!" All four teenagers exclaimed surprised.
All four of them exchanged a even more surprised look afterwards. Only Master Fu chuckled but no one else understood the joke.
Marinette tapped Adrien's arm lightly, as if she wanted to ask how Fu sneaked into the Mansion without Natalie noticing.
He shook his shoulders ever so slightly: No idea.
Though, they were speaking of Master Fu who managed to pop up everywhere unseen.
"You two know the Great Guardian?" Tikki and Plagg hovered over, greeting the old men with a short nudge.
"Yes!" Alya sprung from her seat. „He often shows up when Ladybug and Chat Noir are fighting akumas. He's one of the spectators who joined me since the first days and helped me quite a bit. He improved my skills to record from tricky angles."
"And how to get access to those angles." Master Fu continued as he approached the superhero duo.
Adrien and Marinette took a step back as their friends greeted the old man affectionately. They didn't voice a single thought which raced through their minds. Marinette laced their fingers together and shuffled close. She was as nervous as never before; Adrien could feel her bumping pulse through her finger tips.
His own heart seemed to barely avoid a stroke.
Master Fu had never shown up at their homes before, but neither of them wanted to know the reason behind this sudden change of behavior.
"That's funny." Nino bowed respectfully. "My mom sent me to his shop after being akumatized. Master Fu showed me how to meditate and stay calm due to right breathing. I'm a regular since then."
The Great Guardian smiled mischievously.
It was Alya who noticed the kwamis floating around openly. A little too late, but this time before Nino. "Oh ... Oh! You're in this, too!"
„Rather he belongs to us," Plagg grumbled.
The two superheroes still watched from the sideline. Unable to let go their hands, unwilling to take a step further ... Master Fu wouldn't scold them for revealing them in front of civilians, would he?
Adrien considered to run but Fu was the only teacher he had to confront head-on. Chosen one's weren't allowed to bolt.
"We deeply apologize our mistake," Marinette began, already made up her decision.
Adrien followed his lady without second thought.
"Yes, we didn't break the rules on purpose, Great Guardian." He addressed him in his formal manner so that Nino and Alya would notice.
Adrien couldn't see his friend's reactions as he casted down his eyes ruefully. Marinette still held his hand, fingers tightly clenched, whatever punishment they had to endure they wouldn't let go of each other.
"Look at me, you two." Master Fu's face wasn't portraying any emotion. Though Adrien had never seen him mad, he always seemed slightly amused, a bit shrewd sometimes.
"Where's Wayzz?" Plagg demanded, unaware of the frizzling tension. Probably he didn't care, since he settled on Adrien's shoulder fully relaxed.
„Why didn't he accompany you, Guardian?", Tikki chirped.
Master Fu still avoided to answer.
"What's happening here?" Nino whispered but Alya elbowed him with more force than necessary.

Seconds stretched to minutes but Adrien refused to yield under the silence which weighed down heavily on him. Time seemed to forget to flow as the superheroes waited for their judgment.
Only Alya and Nino shifted uncomfortably, uncertain whether they should stay or leave the room.
"Breaking the first rule is going to be punished with giving up his or her Miraculous." Finally Master Fu crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Adrien broke out in cold sweat. Marinette let out a small squeak. It was her fault misinterpreting Alya's threat.
"It's not their fault!", Alya shouted immediately as if she had read this thoughts.
At her outburst Master Fu sent her a small smile.
"Calm down. I'm not here today to retrieve your Miraculous, children." He chuckled lighted. "It's still too easy to screw you."
Plagg's snicker echoed through his thoughts as Adrien almost broke down, but somehow the connection to Marinette held him upright. They shared a quick glance, relief was washing over her face and a hint of boldness flickered in the cobalt blue eyes he loved.
She was up to something.
Watch out! His princess was definitely scheming a plan.
"You two wanted to make a request, didn't you?" Master Fu continued.
"Yes!" Marinette almost shouted. "Oh, yes, please!"
Adrien nodded vigorously, catching up immediately. "We greatly need assistance and more support in combat."
The two of them waited intently, gauging Fu's reaction.
Alya couldn't stifle a gasp as she understood the full meaning of their words. She witnessed the request of adding new heroes. Probably she would be one of the first persons to know their names and abilities ... Adrien easily imagined how she already planned a dozen articles for her Ladyblog.
Only Nino was distracted by Tikki who decided to settle on his palm for now.
Master Fu took a deep breath. "Well, given the situation ... your wish is being granted."
Adrien didn't believe his ears at first, until he heard Marinette's gleeful squeal.
"I've waited patiently for the day you trusted someone enough to share your secrets. Aside from your other half which took long enough, children." Master Fu fetched out two wooden-boxes as he suddenly shifted to Alya and Nino. "I've waited patiently as well for two supporters who were willing to protect you even without magical enforcement."
It was Marinette who lunged herself at the old man crying and laughing at the same time. Adrien instead slung his arms around Nino and Alya from behind, pulling them close.
"This is going to be so much fun!"
Once again Nino and Ayla were loss for words and didn't realized the situation at all.
"Welcome to our team." Fu presented each of them a box which magically sprung open. "Jade Turtle and Red Renarde."