Ch. 23

Olivia sighed and looked at her made cupcakes. They were chocolate ones with a lemon peel. Of course, the lemons were almost imposible to notice but it has the specific taste which made the cupcakes more unique and special. Olivia hoped Louis will notice that. She hoped he'll like the taste of it.

Olivia wasn't into baking or spending time in the kitchen. Sometimes she was forced to make something to eat eapecially when her parents were working late. Sometimes she liked to make their job more conforting by making them those cupcakes. Sometimes she was apologizing with them. But her parents liked those sweets and therefore Olivia hoped Louis won't be an exception.

It was his birthday, anyway. He didn't tell her that, so he'll be surprised Olivia knew. But he'll understand that his mother had to be the one who told that.

Olivia packed the cupcakes into the little blue box she painted with a green paws like Louis's jacket collar. Those paws reminded of her baton and ring when she was transformed. She believed that it had to be related to her ring for sure, but his mother was a French and therefore experienced the attacks of Hawk Moth. Louis's mom most likely was inspired of the heroes.

"This looks uneatable. Why you want to give these things? It would be more valuabe to give cheese insted" Plagg commented.

"It's not for you, Plagg. Not everyone loves cheese like you do" Olivia smiled.

"Pff... How people cannot love cheese? That would be a dissaster!" kwami's eyes widened.

Olivia giggled. Plagg's dedication to his camembeart looked so adorable for her.

"I made some for you too. With cheese" the girl smirked a little and took a couple of lighter-colored cupcakes. "I hope these ones are eatable."

Plagg licked his lips and grabed one cupcake. Soon the whole dessert was in his stomack.

"Not bad" he said flying to take tho other one.

"No, that one will be your lunch" Olivia took it from Plagg's litle arms and put in a paper bag and then in her school bag.

Than she looked at the clock. She falt relieved having some extra time for herself. The girl quickly got redy and sat to reed some old Ladyblog posts. She liked to do that everyday when she had some free time. It was really interesting to find out more not only about the battles but also that through history there were more of them. She was also really excited to know that there were many more miraculous, so Olivia knew that maybe her teem will be made not only of two heroes. But she tried to read the whole story from the begining. From the first time they all appeared.

Olivia found the script where was talking about Mawk Moth's identity. She already knew that he was Gabriel Agreste. The whole news were still full of him and his mysterious disappearance. As mysterious as Ladybug and Chat Noir's. Olivia read the script. There was a huge scandal that Chat Noir turned out to be his son. What? Son? Olivia didn't undersrand at first. She quickly found where heroes identities were exposed. Adrien Agreste, yeah, the same surname, the girl sighed remembering that. She didn't notice that before though she knew both main former heroes identities. She felt sorry for that person. What would happen if she had to fight against her own parents? It seemed so horible from her eyes. But that made her feel a bit worried. What if she and Plunksna were related?

Olivia shook her head. That was inposible. Her mother had a lot of work almost all the time. She wouldn't have time to be Plunksna. She wasn't bad either. Of course, sometimes she was too harsh to Olivia but she was her mother amd moms has to be like that sometimes. The only person who could be that bad was her sister, but she was in Paris, she couldn't bring any harm to Vilnius being there. Besides, Olivia doubted her sister would like to torture anyone but her.

Olivia looked at the pictures of the trial. There was billion of pictures of Marinette and Adrien. The woman looked familiar to someone. But she tried not to pay mutch atention. It was normal since she watched so many videos and pictures of Ladybug. Adrien looked also familiar but Chat Noir was absolutely different from that man. Starting with his cat eyes and different hairstyle, finishing with opposite personality aspects. Maybe I saw him at the city a couple of times, she thought. But to be sure she googled him. The last pictures of that man was taken more than 25 years ago, so he was more than twice as old as he was at the time. But Olivia kept looking at the pictures. She had to admit, he was handsome and there was no surprise he was a model and even as Chat Noir he looked really hot.

But then there was a picture of a painting. That was an old picture of Agreste family. Olivia stoped breathing. The phone fell on the ground.

"What now?" Plagg flew in front of Olivia's fave. "Why are you always so dramatic?"

Olivia blinked a few times. She mumbled something she couldn't understand herself and shoved at the phone. Plagg sighed and turned it around, so he could see the screen.

"Why are you so surprised? You have seen his pictures before. The one taken in his teens shouldn't have shocked you that mutch" Plagg glared at the girl.

"Louis... I-it's Louis" she somehow managed to aay. She couldn't believe that boy looked exactly the same. Olivia quickly took her phone and found the pictures of her birthday. When she was on the ice, she and her friends made some selfies and she perfectly knew Louis was in a few too. Her eyes widdened even more when she saw the picture. And slowly tha strange relization came to her mind. The similar surname, the half Chinese mother looking like an older Ladybug's version, Louis himself looking like Adrien Agreste's copy. That's why they seemed familiar.

Olivia's phone beeped reminding her it was the time to leave. But how she could go to school when he was there? More importantly, it was his birthday which meant she had no choice but meet him. Olivia took a deep breath. I can do this. Maybe he doesn't know about his parents past. Maybe he doesn't know about miraculous or, more importantly, my seceret identity. But if he does, that would make so much sence. He is always so nervous around me and I thought he just has a crush on me, but it's probably because he knows who I am, Olivia freacked out. But tried to calm herself down and go to the bus stop.

She needed answers. Mister Bug told her he got his miraculois from Marinette herself. From Louis's mother. And since she was there all the time it wouldn't be a surprise she or Diana put that box into her bag. Or even Louis. Poor Louis had to give his dad's miraculous to me, Olivia bit her lip. That'd explain why Mister Bug knew how he got his earrings and I don't. Louis is too shy to do so... No, don't think that. You have to ask it and than judge others, the girl shook her head.

Olivia remembered when Ms. Gooseberrier told her once. She said that Olivia can tell everything what was in her thoughts. She said that Olivia could tell anything to her and only now Olivia fully understood what she meant. That woman already knew everything. She knew who Cat Noire was. Olivia wouldn't have been surprised if she knew much more about the teenage girl.

Finally Olivia reached the bus stop near the bakery. Olivia took one deep breath after another trying to get all her confidence back and hoping she was right Ms. Gooseberrier actually was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

"Hi, Olivia" Diana said as usual when the girl tried to go straight to the kitchen.

"Oh, good morning" Olivia smiled as she was too deep in her thoughts to greet her at first.

"Lack of sleep?" the young adult smiled. Olivia nod and went to the kitchen where Louis's mother was usually baking.

But this time she was sitting on small stool sketching something. When Olivia came in she looked at the guest and smiled warmly as usual. This smile helped Olivia to relax a bit.

"How are you? I see you have a really colorful box. Is there a gift for Louis?" the woman looked closely at the gift. Olivia couldn't believe how that woman could act like everything was normal. "You must have put so much work into this..."

"Yeah... Umm... But I can't give it to him. Can you do it for me?" Olivia freaked out. After the morning experiences she just couldn't face him. Even standing in the bakery was freaking her out. All she could see was that Louis's mother looked like Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Like Ladybug. But she couldn't be. It would be ridiculous. A miracle. A dream. Every single negative and positive thing combined together making an absolutely balanced mess.

"Why. What's wrong? Are you OK?" Marinette put her sketchbook away and steped forward Olivia. She tried to put her arms on the girl's shoulders but she stepped backwards and shook her head.

"Nono. I'mjustfine" the girl mumbled a bit too fast.

"But you don't look like that. What's wrong? You know you can count on me" Marinette said smiling but keeping the space Olivia needed.

Olivia slowly looked at the woman. Her deep blue eyes were so calming down, but then the red mask appeared in her thoughts. It so perfectly matched and it freaked Olivia out even more.

The girl closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Tell me" the woman calmly encouraged the girl.

Olivia had nowhere to go. She had to tell everything. She had to know the full story herself. There was no turning back and Olivia perfectly knew it.

"I know you are Ladybug" after a long pause the girl finally managed to say.

Marimette stepped back but didn't stop smilimg. Olivia's eyes widened a bit. She didn't undersrand why it was worth smiling and how calmly Marinette managed to stay.

"I was waiting until you'll relize that" she explained like reeding the girl's minds.

"So you were the one..." Olivia gasped. She was right. Marinette knew the girl was Cat Noire.

"... Who gave you the ring? Yes" Marinette finished the sentence.

"B-but why? I didm't deserve it" Olivia couldn't understand.

"Because I think you do deserve it. You proved how brave and strong you were. You showed you're a protector, but not the one who thinks a lot figuring out a plan. You just do what you think is right following what your heart tells you to do. That's why you aren't Ladybug. But that's what all Ladybugs need" Marinette showed Olivia's heart.

"Does Louis..." the girl sterted to ask slowly but she was cut again.

"No, he doesn't know you're Cat Noire" Marinette answerrd. "And I hope, you won't tell him" the woman added and went to her oven where the croisants were. "It's dangerous to know who the heroes are and the more people know that, the riskier it is. And I want my family to be safe."

Olivia nodded. That meant he was so nervous because he had a crush. At least that question was explained. But it didn't make the girl feel better. The son of the real Paris saviors was into her, so how she had to feel?

But maybe had actually has an inea of who Cat Noire actually is, she wondered.

"But he knows about miraculous?" the girl asked after a short pause.

"Of course" Marinette giggled and opened one of the hutches. "How unfriendly of you Plagg to eat cheese and not even say hi."

All Olivia's thoughts wanished as she stared at her kwami sitting casually and holding a little piece of camembert. She haven't notice how he got there or that he was missing at all. Half of the cheese was already gone. Next to him was a green turtle-looling kwami, but that wasn't the girl cared about.

"How did you get there?" she asked Plagg.

"I leave some cheese there every morning for him, sctually" Marinette said smiling awkwardly and scrached her head. Olivia just looked at her kwami surprised. "And each morning he sneaks out of your bag and come here to eat."

Olivia sighed. Of course he would, it was so typical of Plagg to be so inresponsible.

"You always complain I don't give you enough cheese but you seceretly eat more than you shoud" the girl glared at her Plagg. He just smiled and said:

"Hey, Marinette."

The green kwami shook his head placing his one little hand on his face.

"And who are you?" Olivia asked the other kwami.

He looked at the girl and flew in fron of her face. He smiled to her.

"I'm Wayzz, nice to finally meet you, Olivia" he said.

"You are a kwami right?" she asked Watzz. He nod in agreement.

"He's a kwami of turtle miraculous" Marinette interupted and rised her hand showing the bracelet. Before Olivia could ask anything more, she continued: "Louis knows about him, of course, but he can't know you know about him too. So, when he comes, Plagg will have to fly back to your bag while Wayzz will hide there in kichen."

Olivia nodded. She understood that Louis shouldn't know that.

"So... You have more than that miraculous, don't you?" Olivia askdd.

"Yeah. I have most of them. A few were stolen that's why I need your and Mister Bug's help to get them back. In the wrong hands miraculouses can be very dangerous. I was tought to take care of the jewles but the destiny is unpredictable, you know?"

"That means you're like a guardian or something?"

"Yes. I am now" Marinette said.

Olivia nod.

The door opened and Louis came in. Olivia turned red when she relised seeing his father in him. She finally admited how cute Louis was and his deep blue eyes were always full of energy and joy. He shared his positive energy to everyone around him. Just like his mother. Louis also was similar to Mister Bug. The same eye and hair color, skin and height... Nah, Ms. Gooseberrier said she wanted her family to be safe. She wouldn't have given her miraculous to him, Olivia thought. Besides, they have such different personalities and there're thousad of other guys with similar features. Just give them that mask and they'll look the same. Stop imagining that they're the one and only person. It's just your crush to Mister Bug which makes you feel like this, she thought to herself.

Marinette passed the gift to Olivia. The girl took it but stood still. She couldn't move a muscle and she didn't understand what was going on with her.

Louis saw his frozen friend. The bright pink blush colored his cheeks. He didn't expect Olivia to bring him a birthday gift but it was clear his mother couldn't stay quiet. The boy smiled shily and wawed to Olivia.

Marinette diged her finger into Olivia's back pushing her forwarfld. The girl took a deep breath trying to take her courage and forget abiut what she knew. She couldn't let Louis know that.

"Happy fourteenth birthday!" she finally managed to say and gave the colorful box to her friend.

The boy took it. The huge smile appeared on his face and blush darkened even more. He scrached his head.

"Umm... Acrually... Fifteen I am" he said.

Olivia peeped. She thought he had his fourteenth birthday. She thought he started school at the same age as she. Guess, I was wrong. I'm so messed up today while it just started.

"I'm sorry. I thought..." she blushed from embarrassment.

"Nono! It's OK" Louis interupted her. "I'm surprised birthday you my know... Oh I mean, you know my surprise I'm birthday-... No, I mean, I'm birthday, you surprised-... Ugh!..." the boy tried to say.

Marinette giggled a little. It so mutch reminded of her stammering when she was close to Adrien many years ago. Only with a time she learned how to control that. And the thoughts of him being with Kagami was used to make her sad therefore she had to forget how much she loved him. Luckily, the destiny brought them back together.

Meanwhile Olivia stood like a statue, not knowing how to react. She barely understood what Louis tried to say to her, especiallly when he did this in different ways, so she was very confused and didn't know how to reply.

"You mean, you're surprised she knows your birthday data?" finally Louis's mother said.

"Nah! I mean, Yeah!" Louis nodded.

"I's because I told her. But didn't say witch one. I thought she knew you were fourteen" the woman shook her shoulders. "But it doesn't really matter, now. What matters, you two have to go to school now unless you want to be late.

"Right! W- m-must go! "Louis jumped and put his gift on a table. He probably thought it was better to keep it in a bakery. "Bye, mom" he added while leaving the kitchen.

Olivia glanced at Marinette.

"So... See you latter, Ms. Gooseberrier" she smiled. She felt excited to meet such legend. Some part of her couldn't believe it was Paris beloved superheroine in front of her. But the world was unpredictable. Everything can happen.

"Call me Marinette" the woman said back a second before the girl was gone.

--

Before the secon'd lesson ended Olivia recieved a message from Noah. Confused she took her phone and her skin went pale.

It wasn't because they talked less and less. They both knew they have to study, therefore there was less time them to be together. And the time they spent sometimes lost the meening because the main subject was always about superheroes. But what she could do? He was into such things. He adored Olivia's alter ego and was jelous of Mister Bug. Olivia felt happy hearing the beautiful words abot heroes, but tried to keep calm and not show that.

Noah should have felt not very good when Olivia tried to change the subject or showed that she didn't care mutch about that. But she did that only because he'd see her too. She wanted to know his adventures, not someone elses, especialy when she was one of the superheroes herself. She wanted to hear funny stories from his daily life, but sometimes it seemed it was too hard for Noah.

The message wasn't about his dedication to the heroes though. He didn't greet Olivia, but that wasn't why she was pale. There wasn't anything about his daily life. Any pictures or videos. Only one word. But this word could meant so many negative things. It was so mysterious and terifying word that no one would like to hear it.

Liar

~~~

There isn't much to say this time. I just hope you enjoy the story and this chapter. This book will end with around 28 chapters, but I'm not sure if this is worth continuing with the second book. But if you really want me to do so, let me know, because I have some idea's for it.