Chapter 10

As Volpina and Tortuga dropped their transformation, Alya - the real one - and Nino stood in their places with two kwamis. One that similarly looked like Master Fu's. Both fed their kwamis, Alya with berries and Nino with butter.

"What the..." Chat Noir and Ladybug were seriously astonished. Even more astonished when Nino and Alya spoke their names.

"Mari, Adrien-"

"Hold on! How the hell did you find out?!" Ladybug exclaimed as she turned into Marinette. She caught Tikki in her hand and gave her a chocolate chip cookie.

"More importantly, when?!" Chat added turning into Adrien. Plagg instantly gnawed at the camambert piece Adrien was holding up. The four kwamis flew into Marinette's purse, enjoying each other's company while the kids figured out stuff.

"Well I knew it after the third akuma attack," Alya confessed.

"It took me three days to suspect you and roughly a week or two to get my confirmation, dude," Nino admitted. Adrien and Marinette blinked.

"I can't believe we didn't piece it together earlier than them," Adrien muttered increduliously.

"Well, I can't help that both of you are really oblivious! How much did it take to figure out you lile each other! A year!" Alya exclaimed expectantly.

"W-well..." Adrien and Marinette sheepishly looked at the ground for suddenly their shoes were more interesting.

"Anyway, we won't give the secret away so no worries," Nino grinned bearhugging both of the embarrassed teens.

"Thanks," Adrien grinned. "Since when are you superheroes?"

"Since today," Alya said joining the hug. "An old man whom we helped up after he had tripped gave it to us."

"Though I still have no idea how. The boxes just appeared in our rooms," the DJ wondered.

"Oh, you mean Master Fu?" Marinette inquired surprisedly. "He's the kwamis' guardian."

"Not for long though," Wayzz suddenly spoke floating out of Mari's purse. "Nino is my new master, thus he is the new guardian."

"Yepp, the ol' dude will teach me to become the new guardian," Nino confirmed.

"Wow," Marinette muttered.

"Now what's left is to defeat Hawk Moth," Alya grinned.

"Well, for that..." Adrien looked away sadly, sighing deeply. "I'll speak to him with Mari sometime soon."

"What do you mean?" Nino quirked an eyebrow sensing something was wrong.

"He means exactly what he said. We need to talk to him. He has a reason why he wants our miraculouses," Marinette said chewing her lips.

"I smell a rat, Mari, spill please," Alya said furrowing her brows. Marinette and Adrien shared a look and with a nod, they explained who Hawk Moth was and what he wanted and the possible consequences of his actions according to Tikki and Plagg.

"I can't believe this." Nino's and Alya's jaws were on the floor.

"Well, it is hard for me too," Adrien sighed shrugging. "But the only way we can stop him, is if we talk to him."

"Do you think it will work?" Alya asked worriedly.

"It has to." Marinette wore a determined and hopeful expression.

"I agree with Mari. You can't respond to aggression with aggression if you want it to stop. You need to respond to it with love and sincerity," the blonde boy said, looking up at the sky. "Mom always told that. And she's right. It's easy to continue a chain of hatred with hatred. But it's hard to stop it. You need love and compassion for that."

"Jesus, no matter how cheesy that may sound, dude your mom was right," Nino laughed.

"Agreed on that," Alya smiled hugging Adrien tightly. "Now how about going back home? It's late and we still have homework for tomorrow."

"Crap! Mari, your parents! What will they think if they see us gone for three hours now?!" Adrien exclaimed horrified.

"Oh my God you're right!" Marinette shrieked. "Guys, we'll see you tomorrow!" She started running towards her house and Adrien followed her while Nino and Alya burst out laughing and strolled back to Alya's together. Fortunately for Marinette and Adrien, the parents didn't notice their absence as they didn't even check on them. Why, you ask? Well, because when Marinette and Adrien came tumbling down the stairs, cheeks red and panting from the run, Tom wriggeled his brows suggestively, while Sabine just calmly asked whether their make-out session was over. Needless to say it left the two teens spluttering and blushing like a tomato.