Alya shrugged a jacket on, knowing it would be cold outside, and slid out the window. She climbed down to the ledge over the top of a window the next floor down, deciding from there, it wasn't too high to jump off. "Alya, wait!" Someone called, making Alya look back up to he window. Floating above her was the ladybug kwami, looking down at her with concern. Alya had been so preoccupied with Marinette, she'd completely forgotten that Ladybug's kwami must've been exhausted too.

"Hi! Marinette asked me to meet with Chat Noir, but I had to sneak out. Sorry if I woke you- what's your name?" The kwami nodded in understanding, the worry erased from her expression by a bright smile, "I'm Tikki," she told Alya, "Thank you for helping Marinette."

Alya chuckled, "As if I could do anything else. She detransformed in my room!"

Tikki frowned, "I couldn't hold the transformation any longer, and I could sense that Marinette wanted you to know." Tikki paused, closing her eyes thoughtfully, "She wouldn't have made it anywhere else."

Alya tried to smile reassuringly, but she couldn't quite manage it. Something about Tikki's anxiety was rubbing off on her, returning Alya's thoughts to the whirl they'd been in earlier. "I don't suppose you have any cookies?" Tikki asked. Alya nodded, distracted. She was going to meet with Chat Noir… and say what? Ladybug's fine, and also she's my best friend? She sent me here because she has an unfaltering trust in me? Well, that's a daunting thought… "In the kitchen." She added, trying to ignore her doubts.

"Thanks!" Tikki said happily, disappearing into her room. Alya dropped onto the pavement, wishing she had her superhero suit to protect her from the chill.

xXx

Alya could barely see Chat Noir's dark outline against the sky. He perched on a rooftop, humming something sad to himself. He ran a hand through his hair, staring out at the Eiffel Tower, although she could tell he wasn't thinking about it in the slightest. "Chat Noir!" She called, catching his attention. Alya knew if she waited, she might lose her nerve. He glanced down at her, "I don't have time for an interview, Alya." His tone was cold, reminding her of the one Adrien used when he denied his fangirls. She found herself wondering whether maybe they were the same person after all.

"I'm not here for that." She told him, matching his tone, "I came because Ladybug asked me too."

She saw his eyes widen in shock, glowing in the lowlight, before he jumped down to stand beside her. Alya thought he was going to speak, but instead her grabbed her around the waist, and vaulted them both back up to his rooftop. She didn't have to time to scream. "I'm sorry." He said quietly, "I didn't want people to hear."

"It's fine." She said shakily, surprised by the depth of the agitation that clouded his gaze, "She wanted you to know she's okay, just tired." He didn't respond for a moment, walking away from Alya to stand at the edge of the roof. He turned back to her, "Too tired to meet her partner- the one she knows loves her?" Good God, this boy is the embodiment of angst.

"She detransformed in my room, you stupid cat!" Alya shouted, feeling prickly, as he complained about her best friend, "She couldn't even get home. You don't get to turn this into-"

"Ladybug detransformed in your room?" Chat Noir interrupted, "You know who she is?" Alya watched him hide his hurt behind his curiosity. "Yes." She said, hesitant. The hurt flashed across his expression again, a fresh wound. Alya wondered whether she should have told him that; the look on his face told her she probably shouldn't have.

It made sense for him to be upset. He and Ladybug had been fighting together for years, undefeated and the pride of Paris, and yet, they had no idea of the other's identity. "She told a civilian before she told me?" He asked, voice small and hoarse.

"I'm not a civilian, Chat." She said, hoping that knowing about her superhero identity might ease his pain a little, "I'm Rena Rouge."

He smiled, standing a bit straighter, "At least her identity hasn't gotten outside of the miraculous circle." Alya sighed in relief as her plan succeeded.

Suddenly, Chat Noir's ring gave a warning beep, both him and Alya tensing up at the sound. "I forgot I had-" A green light erupted around him, the black suit being replaced by his civilian clothes. Alya's heart stopped. Was this really happening fo the second time in one night? She didn't think her brain could take anymore. She didn't look up. She didn't want to see.

"I thought I had another minute."

Chat Noir groaned, causing Alya to look up as she recognised his voice, asking herself how she hadn't noticed before. "Adrien. Agreste."

"Yes?" He asked, voice a pitch higher than usual. He should be scared- I'm going to kill both of them when Marinette wakes up. Furious, she launched all her anger at him, everything she wanted to say to Marinette spilling out, "This is a double betrayal- you and her! Why didn't you tell me? I practically worshipped you for years." Adrien frowned at his feet, looking ashamed of himself, "Ladybug." He said, as if correcting her, "You worshipped Ladybug. I'm just her sidekick." Alya looked at him blankly, struggling to comprehend what he had said.

"She'd hit you so hard for saying that, sunshine."

Alya thought for a moment, feeling slightly hysterical. Not only was she dealing with her friends' secret identities, but also their insecurities? That was too much. Without much more thought, she shrugged and slapped him face as hard as she could.

Adrien flinched away from her, "What the hell, Alya?" She raised an eyebrow at him, knowing he knew he deserved it. "Chat Noir is Ladybug's partner. I won't hear any different." Alya felt a grin split her face, "Oh- this is perfect… My ships! I can get LadyNoir and Adri-" She stopped, keeping herself from finishing, and not saying Marinette's name. "Alya, are you really shipping me with a random person I've never met as a civilian?" Adrien asked disapprovingly.

How could she answer that? She couldn't answer that without revealing that they both knew Ladybug's civilian identity. Alya just shook her head, hoping he didn't notice her indecision. Luckily, he'd never been very perceptive. "You can't tell her about this- my identity, or that you know my identity… or that I know that you know her identity."

"But she's my best friend! You can't-" Alya protested, before Adrien interrupted her.

"Your best friend?" He asked with an almost patronising disappointment, "You can't be best friends with someone you just met."

"I didn't say that we'd just met." She shot back, instantly defending herself. He laughed bitterly, "So you just forgot about Marinette then?"

Alya said nothing, raising an eyebrow at him and staring blankly. "I didn't think you were like that, Alya." Adrien continued, Alya having to try very hard not to punch the righteousness of his smug face, "Because there's no one you know better than Marinette."

"Exactly."

Adrien stopped mid-step, ceasing his annoying pacing as he ranted. "Marinette is-" Alya felt manic laughter building in her chest. Had she really just done that? Just revealed Ladybug's identity against her wishes? Alya was finding it difficult to care in that moment- if they didn't want to have some sort of nervous breakdown, then they shouldn't have dumped it on her all at once. She gave into the madness. "Let me guess, I can't tell Marinette you know?"

Adrien was silent, and Alya decided that meant she was probably right. "Since all the secrets are coming out, what's two more?" She said, feeling oddly joyful. She briefly wondered whether it was because she could stop lying, and wouldn't have to in the future. Adrien opened his mouth to say something but Alya held a finger to his lips to shush him. "Firstly, Nino is Carapace." His eyebrows shot straight up, but- much to Alya's amusement- he remained silent, "And second-" Alya's confidence stalled for a moment, but she pushed through, not considering the consequences, "Marinette has been in love with you for years."

She stood back, watching him stumble over his words, turning away to see if she could get off the building. She noticed a ladder, setting her sights on it. "You- Nino… Marinette?" Alya giggled hysterically, waving, "Bye, sunshine!"