I'm kind of red-conning Adrigami and Lukanette in this story? I don't particularly dislike these ships, but they wouldn't fit in the timeline of this oneshot, so we'll pretend like it never happened.

On the food scale, I rate this a solid pancake. Not too sweet, it's fluffy, it can be a bit angsty if you want it to be, but overall, it's just a nice breakfast stable. The end is pretty sweet, like that one last pancake you eat with honey because it makes for a great dessert as well.

Enjoy!

Adrien, the cat

.o.O.o.

1. The first list

Adrien had been raised to be the picture perfect gentleman. Well-mannered, soft-spoken, a pretty smile and not a mean bone in his body. He was raised to shake hands, pull out chairs, to make pleasant small-talk and to – above everything else – respect boundaries.

(Though his parents may have neglected to teach him that expanded to him, as well.)

And boundaries he respected. Sure, he kept bothering, one could say, Ladybug with wanting to know her identity – but, in his own, humble opinion, he had never pushed too far. He had asked and sometimes pleaded, but he had backed off after a firm "No" and, most importantly, he had never force a reveal – even if it had been just a door separating them.

And how could he not? Ladybug was his best friend, his partner, the love and light of his life! Disappointing the trust she put in him would feel worse than whenever she rejected his confessions.

Or whenever he dropped in on Marinette – if anyone asked, he hadn't changed his patrol route specifically just to pass her balcony – and she didn't have a croissant to offer.

Or her own, pleasant company.

But, you see – that was the one, very important, all encompassing point.

Adrien was well-mannered.

Chat Noir on the other hand refused to let any one rule govern his life. Adrien may never change a patrol route just to meet a friend and to nick a croissant or two (or other pastries, if he had to – the Dupain-Cheng passion fruit macarons were legendary after all), but Chat – Chat absolutely would.

In fact, he'd go as far as to perfect his kitten eyes just to get more free food.

(He felt bad for using his status as a superhero to get pastries sometimes, but then again, if Marinette knew it was Adrien underneath that mask, she'd stuff him pastries too, so it was only fair).

Adrien may never lie about practising playing piano, but Chat Noir would – without remorse – ditch his lesson the moment Nathalie had left the room, bound out of his window with a hum on his lips and then meet up with Nino at the other end of Paris to watch a movie his father would definitely not approve of.

And maybe, Adrien may think that making a list with every single active (formerly active?) Miraculous Holder and their civilian identities may go too far – but Chat Noir was just that.

A cat. A stray when Ladybug was not around, to be more precise.

And cats, well – they were known for being curious.

So don't blame Adrien. Don't even blame Chat – blame Plagg.

"Yeah, kid, sure – whatever helps you sleep at night. Now, where's my four o'clock snack?"

.o.O.o.

Rena Rogue – Alya

Carapace – Nino

Aspik – Me

Viperion – Luka

Pegasus – Max

Multimouse – Marinette

Ryuko – Kagami

King Monkey – Kim

To start is off, it must be said that Adrien had had good intentions.

Well, other than trying to satisfy his curiosity that was.

But he had genuinely hoped he could help out! Sure, he had wanted to know what kind of person Ladybug would choose, but he had also wanted to know so he could help! To – to help hand them out! In case they were ever called up on again! And to – uh – to make sure their civilian identities didn't get bothered by Hawkmoth!

It had purely been a safety precaution.

Promise!

And, well, once the list was written down – it really had been too late already, hadn't it?

The first thing Adrien noticed was the distinct lack of any last names. Or the need for him too google anyone. Or to search for fitting images on facebook.

In short, it took Adrien no time at all to realise that he knew these people.

All of them.

Every single one of them.

They were his friends.

And sure – Ladybug had given out the Miraculous out of necessity more often than anything else. Perhaps his classmates and friends had simply been at the right place (or wrong place, depending on how you looked at it) at the right time.

And perhaps, Adrien could have left it at that. After all, that was how he had gotten his Miraculous. Both of his Miraculi, really. He had been at the right time, hadn't done his duty as a member of society – which his friends did, too, and which was partially why he was friends with them in the first.

Adrien could have left it at that.

He probably should have left it at that, too – and Adrien did!

Chat just didn't. Chat frowned, read over that list again and realised that something wasn't quite adding up – for as much as all of these people had been at the right time at the right place, he was sure Ladybug would be more careful than to just hand the Miraculi out to anyone.

Meaning he was fairly sure she must have known them before. At least a bit. Talked to them. Once maybe, twice, anything to make them trustworthy.

Heck, Alya was the Ladyblogger! Who had made it her mission to expose her identity! Of course, Adrien knew she would have never broken the trust put into her – but would Ladybug know? Would she be able to say the same for Kim? Nino? Him?

It simply felt like too much of a coincidence – Ladybug never carried the other Miraculi around with her – she would have had plenty of time to choose someone else, someone more fitting.

Or perhaps she had been afraid her friends would have figured out her identity had she just showed up at her balcony?

Adrien didn't know. But the list kept tempting him and that night, he tossed and turned in his sleep, unable t forget the names he had written down.

Alya, Nino, Luka, Max, Marinette, Kagami and Kim.

He might just know Ladybug's civilian identity. But – But she didn't want him to know, so he would just drop it.

.o.O.o.

Chat did, in fact, not drop it. And Chat knew he shouldn't be looking.

But he just couldn't stop! Ladybug was everywhere! There were pigtails and black hair and red hair ties and blue eyes and they were everywhere.

He startled when Nino greeted him with a wide grin and their mandatory handshake. He jumped when Alya plopped down behind them, complaining that Marinette had yet to answer her message.

"She'll be late again, I bet – that girl might just forget her own head at some point!"

His eyes constantly scanned the crowds, looking for someone matching the description.

Maybe it was someone from his fencing team? They must have known Kagami – and trusted her to a certain extend.

People didn't trust her easily – Kagami was great, but could come off as cold at first glance.

Would Ladybug have chosen her just because her mother had been the akumatized villain?

But no. Following that logic, Ladybug must have known most of his class – and the people on his fencing team didn't.

It had to be someone else.

Rose had blue eyes! But – they weren't the right shade, and anyway, the hair was all wrong, not too mention that she had been akumatized several times already.

Maybe someone from a parallel class? She might have met his classmates during break – was anyone from his fencing team in a parallel class?

Juleka had black hair! But Juleka's eyes were all wrong too and she had highlights – could the Miraculous change the way your hair looked? It changed his style – but could the same be said for colours?

He'd have to ask. But it couldn't be Juleka anyway – while Adrien didn't think Juleka was timid by any means, he doubted she'd ever shout at Hawkmoth in front of all of Paris.

It went like that all day.

All. Day.

Until it stopped that was (right after second period).

The jury's still out on whether that was a good or a bad thing.

Adrien was one of the last to leave the class – he had wanted to keep an eye out on everyone else – and soon enough, it was only him and Marinette left in the classroom, Marinette who had needed to ask Madame Bustier something about a field trip she planed.

She was just thoughtful like that.

Adrien was packing his things and so was Marinette and then, without forewarning, Marinette tripped and spilled her pens all over the classroom floor.

For a few seconds – once the clatter of pens and other writing utensils had died away – silence engulfed the classroom – and then, Marinette scrambled to pick them all up, apologizing furiously.

Of course, Adrien wouldn't not help her.

Adrien was raised to be a gentleman – and anyway, Chat would have done the same.

(What a fake knight in shining magical material of your choice would he be it he didn't!)

Kneeling down, he started to help pick up the pens, not thinking much off it until-

"Gosh, this is – I'm madly clumsy. I am so clumsy – but you know how it is, don't you?", Marinette said, smiling apologetically and Adrien was about to respond – when he froze.

He had heard these words before.

"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose."

"I'm Ma, uh…Ma, uh..."

"I'm madly clumsy. I am so clumsy."

His eyes snapped up, meeting Marinette's blue ones.

Blue eyes.

Ladybug had blue eyes. Ladybug had black hair. Ladybug had said those exact same words.

Marinette continued picking up her pens, soon enough having put them back into their place – Adrien, meanwhile, had yet to get up from the floor.

Marinette had blue eyes, black hair, always wore them in pigtails – Marinette who he had suspected to be Ladybug before already, Marinette who…

"Adrien? You alright – Are you alright?"

Huh?

Oh.

He was kneeling on the floor still.

"Uh – y-yes. O-Of course."

Adrien shot up, cheeks flush with embarrassment, trying his best to be his usual calm and collected self – he couldn't let her know of the turmoil her words had put his thoughts into.

He couldn't avert his eyes though – his mind analysing the way her brows were drawn in the smallest of frowns and her eyes were filled with so much worry and-

Multimouse! His brain supplied. Think of Multimouse!

And of Multimouse he thought.

And of her adorable space buns – almost a mirror of what Ladybug usually wore. And her fierce confidence, not unlike Ladybug's. And her uncanny ability to use anything – any object, any situation – to her own advantage, a creativity only rivalled by-

Yeah, who was he kidding, Marinette was definitely Ladybug.

Without a doubt. Heck, she hadn't been there when Miraculous Queen had taken over Paris and the only other temporary not to be there had been Aspik – himself!

And she had had the Fox Miraculous as Multimouse! Of course she'd fashion an illusion to throw anyone of her track!

And then there was her hair and her pigtails (come to think of it – hadn't she always worn them that way?), her eyes...

Marinette was Ladybug.

Marinette was Ladybug!

Adrien felt his smile widen ever so much – "A-Adrien?" – of course she was, who else – "Adrien?" – could possibly be as great, or, better yet, who could ever choose anyone but Marinette to be – "Adrien!"

Huh?

He looked up – just to see how Marinette was flailing her hands in front of his face, clearly trying to get his attention.

"A-Are you okay?", she asked and suddenly, his eyes zeroed in on her once more.

Marinette was Ladybug.

She had to be.

Dreamily, he sighed:"Better than okay, actually" - before realizing just what it was that he had said.

And that he was very much not cat-like at the moment and Marinette very much wasn't wearing red spandex and there was no reason for Adrien to say that to Marinette.

"I mean, yes! Of course! I'm good! Perfect! Splendid! No-No worries, I, uh – just zoned out for a bit..."

He gave Marinette his best smile, knowing full well how insecure and fake it must look in that exact moment – though his reaction seemed to confused Marinette more than anything else.

"A-Alright!", she squeaked – Ladybug better give her back the Mouse Miraculous. Or Marinette better give Marinette back the Mouse Miraculous?

Hm. Their Duality explained why Ladybug had always insisted on not letting Multimouse return, whilst she held (or had held) no such reservations towards Kagami or Chloé.

"I-I'll then after lunch – I'll see you after lunch?", Marinette pushed out between pressed together lips, her cheeks painted the most adorably hue of pink (from embarrassment, Adrien was sure) that made it quite impossible for Adrien to rip his gaze away.

Marinette was smiling too widely.

Adrien was smiling too widely, too – though for an entirely different reason.

Carefully, he put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed ever so lightly.

Marinette was Ladybug!

Her cheeks reddened even more now and Adrien frowned. Was he making her uncomfortable? He was definitely making her uncomfortable.

He hastily snatched his hand back again.

The red deepened even more.

Weird.

"Yeah, See you after lunch...Marinette."

And off she stormed.

.o.O.o.

Knowing Marinette was Ladybug had not the intended effect of alleviating the tension Adrien felt. Quite the opposite – it made his day complete and utter hell.

She was sitting behind him, for god's sake! Behind him! Directly behind him! His lady was looking at him right now and he could do nothing about it, couldn't even look back to get lost in her beautiful, angelic, deep as oceans blue-

"Dude, you okay?"

Darn you, Nino, I was about to get lost in my dreams!

"Splendid."

Nino raised an eyebrow at that.

"You sure? 'Cause you look like you're about to explode. Actually, you kind of remind me of Mar…"

"Don't."

Nino raised a second eyebrow.

"Don't what? Say Marinette's name?"

Adrien hissed at that – earning him a glare from Madame Bustier. Caught, Adrien sat upright again, side eyeing Nino in a way that clearly meant he wanted him to drop the subject.

But Nino was dating Alya. And Alya was a reporter.

And her curiosity had clearly rubbed off on Nino – ha, why, he'd be a perfect fir for the Black Cat Miraculous as well!

Anyway. Nino did not want to drop the issue, seeing how, just a few minutes after their initial reprimand, he pushed a note over to Adrien.

It read:

"Are you crushing on her?"

Yes. No. It was complicated. He was crushing on Ladybug and Ladybug was Marinette and he was probably crushing on Marinette, too, judging from the way he really, really wanted his suspicions to be true.

He refused to write down that answer though.

Nino picked up the note again and started to scribble down another message.

"I thought you and Kagami were a thing now?"

Yes. No. It was complicated. He liked Kagami. He really did – but he didn't want to hurt her either. And, well, dating her while still being firmly in love with Ladybug would be – less than ideal.

Even if he'd be upfront about it – if he ever dated Kagami, he didn't want it just so he could get over Ladybug, That wouldn't be fair to her.

He ignored that message, too, and Nino was nice enough not to push the topic.

Which gave Adrien a great deal of time to think of the much more important topic.

Him having found out Ladybug's identity.

Completely by accident!

…

…

He'd have to tell her, wouldn't he? If he put off telling her, she'd be all the more angry when she eventually found out – and Marinette was sure to find out, because this was Marinette they were talking about and Adrien was already on the point of turning around to her and simply blurting it out, entirely without Ladybug having to use her skills in getting him to open up.

…

But – But maybe he didn't have to tell her just yet? Give him some time to process that sweet, incredible Marinette was also smart, confident Ladybug and-

She really was their "Everyday Ladybug", wasn't she?

…

He had called her that, hadn't he? God, he was blind.

Anyway – they had patrol tonight. He could wait until patrol.

She-She wouldn't be too mad, would she? He hadn't meant to find out, after all!

.o.O.o.

"Ladybug?"

Chat was feeling anxious.

Ladybug had had one main rule – not to reveal their identities and now he had gone and done it.

She'd be disappointed, for sure. Disappointed and mad and she'd take his Miraculous and…

"Chat! You're late – are you alright?"

Ladybug had turned around and was smiling at him, just as radiant as the sun sinking into the Seine behind her and - and she'd never smile at him like that ever again and she'd always scowl and she would stop being his friend and she wouldn't scratch him behind his legs anymore and-

"Chat? A – Are you alright?"

Ladybug stepped closer now, her eyes filled with worry – and her smile gone, already.

Chat wished he had taken a picture of it. Just to keep a reminder and-

And he had to get this over with.

Shifting uncomfortably, he took a step back, tail lashing out behind him, occasionally curling itself around his calf or arms or anything, until he snatched it out of the air to keep it still.

Almost immediately, he started fiddling with it.

"Ladybug, I-I..."

He trailed off – Ladybug's brows furrowed in worry and she held out her hands in front of her, almost seeming as if she wanted to step closer once again – but then she remembered he had put this space between them.

If he wanted space, she would respect that.

"You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

She was smiling again, soft and warm this time and entirely Marinette and yep – there was no way he had gotten that one wrong.

Marinette was Ladybug. Ladybug was Marinette and he-he...

"Ifiguredoutyouridentity", Chat pressed out, stumbling back the moment he had said so – letting go of his tail in the process and defensively throwing his hands in front of him.

There. He had said it. Had gotten it over with. He was a brave hero.

…

Truth was, now he just wanted to run, disappear into his room, crawl under his covers and watch Sailor Moon.

Ladybug – Marinette – Maribug frowned – then her eyes widened and she backed away – just a bit, but it was enough for Chat to lose any and all hope.

"W-what?"

"I-I figured out your identity", he mumbled a second time, slower this time, head hanging in shame.

"I – I made a list with all the temporary Miraculous Holders – to help you hand them out! My intentions were good, I swear! – but I noticed I knew all of these people and then I realized you probably knew them in your civilian life as well and then I realized that..."

"Don't!"

Within seconds. Ladybug had crossed the distance between them and had slapped her hand in front of his mouth, eyes wide in shock, effectively shutting him up.

"Don't – Don't tell me – I – I can't know! No one can know."

Chat watched her from wide eyes – Marinette watched right back. Then, carefully, Chat picked up her hand and pulled it away from his mouth, trying his hardest to appear confident.

Even if he felt anything but.

Even if he knew any attempts to try and appear as anything but anxious was futile.

"I-I don't understand, you don't want to know my-"

"No!", she almost shouted:"No! No one can know and it's bad enough as it is but if I know your identity I'll put you in danger as well and I – No!"

"But..."

"Let's – Let's just finish patrol, alright?", Ladybug squeaked, interrupting him once before. And before Chat got a chance to say anything else, she had already swung away.

They didn't talk for the rest of patrol and Chat Noir – Chat Noir couldn't help but think he had seriously messed up.

.o.O.o.

It was after second period that Marinette started eyeing him suspiciously. And, sure, he had told a pun – but it wasn't his fault! He had told that pun Nino – Adrien was fairly sure the girls sitting behind them, engrossed in their own conversation hadn't heard a peep of what he had said – and Nino had then turned around to tell it to Alya.

Who was sitting next to Marinette. Who had obviously listened as well and, of course, Nino had needed to add that Adrien had told him that pun first.

And that was when the suspicious eyeing started.

It got worse when he got tackled by Kim during one of his bets and it messed up his well-styled hair.

By fifth period, Adrien was pretty sure Marinette had figured him out and was mentally preparing for a scolding – judging by the way Marinette's glances changed from "suspicious" to "downright furious", he might just have to skip lunch.

Turns out, he wasn't wrong. Come lunch, they left their classroom and the moment Adrien had sat down in his usual place, Marinette was already marching towards him, with that trademark Ladybug-confidenceTM and Adrien gulped down the rest of his sandwich as fast as he could.

He needed to preserve as much dignity as he could and talking while chewing was a very unadrien thing to do.

"Gotta talk to him", Marinette simply said as she snatched his wrist and pulled him away – leaving a stunned Nino and a greatly pissed off Lila in her wake.

Marinette paid attention to neither of them.

He might have imagined it, but he thought he heard Alya shout:"You go, girl!" in the background.

They ended up in a supply closet – one Adrien knew quite well from the many, many times he had already transformed in here.

And so had Marinette, judging by the way she didn't even have to look to confidently hit the light switch.

"You're Chat Noir", she said, her voice and expression flat. Adrien tried his best to not let the pang in his heart affect him too much.

"Y-Yes. I am. I – I am Chat Noir. And you're Ladybug."

Maybe reminding her that they were partners would make all of this better? Maybe if she realized it was only them that knew – maybe she'd be less furious? She wasn't – she wasn't looking particularly mad right now? Maybe it had worked!

And anyway, he had tried to not tell her! He hadn't said a single pun to her!

It wasn't his fault that everything that could go wrong had gone wrong today!

"I mean – it didn't take mew long to figure that one meowt, right?"

Punning always helped lighten the mood, Adrien had figured out – as long as they weren't in the midst of a battle, that was.

Did this count as a battle? Well, it didn't matter – because it lightened his mood – because Marinette had found him quickly, meaning she must have thought about the things he had told her yesterday, meaning that maybe, secretly, she might have wanted to know as well and-

Marinette was staring at him know, in utter disbelieve – until that disbelieve morphed into a scowl – and Adrien could feel his expression fall

"Yea, well it's not like you made it particularly difficult!", she accused, huffing once:"You basically told me we were friends in school!"

Oh.

Yeah.

Lowering his gaze, he started to nervously rub his neck – he-he had almost forgotten. He had disappointed her. Broken the trust she had put into him and…

"I-I'm sorry, Marinette, I – I really am, I didn't mean to-"

He didn't dare to look up at her – though it almost felt as if her eyes were drilling a little bit less into his skull.

"I-I know you're mad and-and if I have to give up being Chat Noir, I-"

"Oh, kitty no!"

Suddenly, he found a hand comfortingly put on his shoulders and he ripped his head up, staring right at Marinette.

Her expression was a mix between worry and remorse – no anger to be seen.

"No, chaton, don't – don't worry about that, I – I'm not mad!"

She removed her hand from his shoulder – he quite missed the contact, he had to admit.

"You didn't do anything wrong – you didn't want to figure out my identity after all and I can't blame you for wanting to know who your teammates are. And we might have stumbled over each other's identities sooner or later anyway, with how close we are – I'm surprised we've never run into each other so far anyway!"

She laughed at that, her voice high-pitched and very un-ladybug like.

She was trying to cheer him up. And even though he knew her laughter was fake, the warmth her eyes held wasn't and Adrien would take that for now.

"You-You're not mad?"

"God, now, chaton, I could never. Actually I-I..."

She trailed off, her cheeks tinted a light pink – and then she sighed. Crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked back at him.

"I wanted to apologize – I shouldn't have run off yesterday and I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. You didn't do anything wrong and I over-reacted. And – today was the same. I was mad at you for something you had absolutely no control over and that was wrong. Can-Can you forgive me?"

Her eyes were pleading with him and Adrien felt his throat fall dry. Was it fair if she asked for his forgiveness while looking at him from those eyes?

No. It clearly wasn't. He'd always be biased.

"I – I do?"

"God, kitty – you sound so unsure of yourself – you didn't do anything wrong. Promise – I'm glad you decided to tell me right away and didn't keep it a secret from me – there's no reason for you to worry about a thing."

"So – we're good?"

Marinette lightly laughed at that – and then she hugged him and all was right in the world again.

"You're the only one who has a reason to be mad, Chaton – are you sure you're okay?"

"Absolutely! Perfectly fine! Please don't let go!"

…

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

.o.O.o.

2. The second list

"Sooooo", Chat drawled the moment he touched down on Marinette's balcony. She didn't even bother to turn to him, instead choosing to peacefully water her plant.

Chat preened when he noticed it was the – entirely platonic – small rose bush he had gifted her, just a few days back.

It had been a clearance sale!

At the best florist in all of Paris, but Marinette didn't have to know that little side-fact.

"And a good evening to you, too, Chat – there are pastries in my room already, if you give me one more minutes, I'll come down too and we can re-watch "Tangled"."

She still hadn't turned around to face him – Chat stayed perched atop the railing, his tail lashing out behind him, suddenly feeling nervous when he remembered why he was here.

"So, uh – remember that one time you described your mystery guy to me`?", he asked, trying his very best to sound as non-nonchalant as possible.

He had mulled it over. Several times. And the only person that had met all the criteria had been Luka.

Played an instrument? Check. Had been friends with Marinette for some time now? Check. Had great hair? Adrien had always wanted highlights. Had dreamy eyes? Well, he thought his own eyes much dreamier than Luka's, but he'd never insult his lady's tastes.

She had even invited Luka along to that double-date with Kagami!

…

He had asked his lady to help him plan a date with Kagami!

…

Anyway, Luka was a great guy.

"I, uh, may have made another list? To find out who he is?"

Marinette positively froze. Nervously, Chat bit his lip, his tail lashing out more and more until one of the flowerpots were sent flying.

Neither of them took note – and Marinette slowly turned around, setting the watering can, expression blank.

"You did?"

Her voice was toneless, derived from all the life and warmth it usually held.

Chat shivered.

"I – uh, yes. I-I wanted to help! With Luka! I-I'm pretty sure he likes you too, you know!"

If it was possible, Marinette froze again – before standing upright, her eyebrows knit together in thought.

"Luka?"

"Y-Yeah. Luka."

"You think I like Luka?"

Chat was on the point to simply turn around and to run away. Was – had he made a mistake.

"Y-Yes?"

Slowly, Marinette leaned back, folding her hands in front of her chest, taking in his posture and expression for a few moments – before her eyes softened ever so much. She smiled warmly – and then, that smile morphed into a smirk and all hope Chat had dared to have was crushed in one, swift move.

"Come here."

"C-Come here?"

"Yes, please."

With ears pressed flat against his head, Chat approached. Had he – had he overstepped a boundary again? He hadn't meant to! And sure, he was jealous of Luka, but – but Marientte meant the world to him! He wanted her to be happy! And he – he simply wanted to extend a helping hand! Marinette was amazing – she deserved the world and if the world happened to include Luka instead of him, well, he'd get over it.

Or, maybe he wouldn't get over it, but he'd suck it up.

But he was a brave kitty. He'd go over to her, apologize and-

And Marinette put both her hands on each side of his face, pulling him closer.

"What are you?", she asked, both eyebrows raised and for a few seconds, Chat simply stared back, equally confused and scared.

This was Marinette he was talking about, after all. Miss "Sure I can defeat you with a piece of string, why, easiest task of my life!".

"An idiot sandwich?", he asked, unsure of himself.

Marinette seemed to be content with his answer, seeing how she murmured:"My idiot sandwich".

Then she kissed him.

Well, one out of two was a fifty percent win rate, was it not?

They're adorable - anyway, please leave a review if you enjoyed the story and thanks for reading!