(Adrien's POV)

I swung in through the open window of my bedroom. It was just now getting dark, the last spots of light from the sunset quickly disappearing.

"Claws in."

I felt myself transform back, and the first thing I did was stare at Plagg in disbelief. He stared back at me with blank eyes.

"What? What's wrong with you now?"

"Do you realize how weird it is that Ladybug was just standing around on Marinette's balcony? She didn't even look like she was in a rush to get anywhere."

Plagg rolled his eyes. "You and this Ladybug stuff again. Why don't you just move on already? You know how many girls would die to be with you? If I were you I'd choose one and go about my life." Plagg started sniffing the air. "You got camembert around here somewhere? I know it when I smell it…"

I gave Plagg the evil eye and ignored his question. I fell back on my sheets, picturing her beautiful blue eyes, only obstructed by her mask.

"You know Ladybug isn't like any other girl out there. She's different. She's perfect."

"Oh my god. You're gonna make me sick, you know. And in the grand scheme of things, Ladybug is just a normal girl when she's not a superhero. You probably wouldn't even give her a second glance in real life because you're too busy thinking of her second persona."

"Not true. I love her so much, you know." He opened his phone, just to see her picture on his lockscreen. "I'm sure if I knew her in real life, I would know."

Plagg stopped flying around the room to let out the biggest laugh I've ever heard come out of his tiny body. "Wow. That's the most hila-"

I stared at him like he had two heads. I felt my head tip to the side, through no fault of my own.

"Oh man. I sense that I may have made a mistake." Plagg muttered.

"Why are you acting so weird, Plagg?" It came out a lot more serious than I had intended it to. I was originally saying it as a joke, but I realized that this whole situation was far from funny. I stood up from my bed and started following him across the room. Plagg backed up farther with each step I took.

"Nothing, Adrien, nothing I swear." A strange smile creeped up on his face. "I was kidding! I promise!"

"Okay…" I backed up and sat on my couch. But my thoughts were still on Ladybug.

"Plagg. Did Ladybug's excuse for being at Marinette's sound like complete bogus to you too?"

"Who cares if it was? Her identity is supposed to be a secret from you. If it was an excuse to keep her secret, then you can't blame her." Plagg landed on my shoulder. "Anyway, are you sureeeee you don't have any cheese around here?"

"Ugh. I just feel like… it's been so long, you know? Three years. And it almost feels like the answer is… right there in front of me. But it's not. It's actually so far away."

"You wanna know what other answer feels like it's right there? Whether or not you have cheese. But you don't wanna answer me." Plagg said blankly. Of course cheese is the only thing he's ever able to be serious about.

"If I ever found out her identity, I wouldn't tell anyone. I would never betray her trust. Haven't I proven that enough already?"

"Adrien, this lovey-dovey stuff is making me wanna puke. Seriously."

I gave him a dirty look. "I wonder if Ladybug's kwami has an attitude as big as yours. Or a cheese addiction, for that matter."

Plagg began flying around the room again, his energy never wavering. "Tikki? No, Tikki's cool. A whole lot more relaxed than me, that's for sure."

"Tikki?"

"Ladybug's kwami. Her name is Tikki."

"Wait. You know Ladybug's kwami?"

"Duhhhh, Adrien. Are you forgetting we kwami's have been around since like, the beginning of time? But yeah, Tikki's nice. About a million times nicer than me, which M-"

A panicked look suddenly crossed Plagg's face, but he kept going swiftly.

"...I meannn… Ladybug probably appreciates."

Plagg suddenly flew across the room, ducking behind the chair at my desk. He must have known I'm not that clueless.

"Plagg…" I slowly moved toward him. He ducked down further, and I had never seen him look so terrified. "What were you gonna say before you cut yourself off?"

"Nothing, of course! You know me, always saying stupid things that mean nothing!" He tried flying away but I caught him in my hand.

"You may say stupid things, but you're smarter than you let on. Plagg, do you know who Ladybug is?"

"No! Of course not!" He zipped out of my hand and flew up to my ceiling out of reach. But I still wasn't quite convinced. I walked across the room to my schoolbag and opened it up to reveal Plagg's favorite thing; camembert. I picked the best piece I had, and raised it up as far as I could.

"Smell that, Plagg?" I smirked.

"Is that… camembert?"

"Of course."

"Resist, Plagg... Oh, I can't do it."

Plagg sped down to my hand, in an attempt to steal the cheese from my grasp, but I pulled my hand away.

"Plagg, do you know who Ladybug is?"

"No…" he said, staring at the camembert in my hand.

"I know you want the cheese."

"Ha ha… what are you talking about? Why would I ever want camembert…" His actions weren't matching his words. His gaze never left the cheese and his mouth was watering.

"I'll give it to you if you tell me the truth. Do you know who Ladybug is?" I said accusingly.

"Fine! Fine! I do know who she is! Now will you give me the cheese?"

I stared off into space for a second. Plagg knew who she was? This whole time? And never bothered to tell me, after all these years?

"Helloooo? The cheese? You made a promise, Adrien, now keepppp itttttt." Plagg whined. I tossed him the cheese, and sat down on the side of my bed so I wouldn't fall on my face.

"You don't have to act all surprised, you know."

I glanced at him, finally beginning to feel my face again. "How do you know?"

"Okay… fine. Do you remember, a few years back? Only a few months after you and Ladybug got your miraculouses. You guys were fighting Dark Owl, and you were trapped, and Ladybug came up with that plan where you had to take off your disguises and close your eyes? Well, when that happened Tikki and I obviously appeared, and I saw Ladybug and Tikki saw you, so… yeah. Do I get more cheese for telling you all that?" Plagg looked more annoyed than anything.

I tossed him another piece of cheese. He did deserve it after telling me the truth.

"So, if I'm getting this right… Tikki knows my identity, right?"

"Right." Plagg said, taking another bite of cheese.

"Do you think Tikki told her anything about me?"

"No way. Nooooo way. She probably said nothing. Tikki is very professional. She wouldn't want to take any chances regarding your identity, or her's. But it's easy to say that we were both shocked."

"Shocked? Why were you shocked? Like, bad shock?"

"No! No, alright! Chill out! I was easily more shocked than Sugarcube, though."

"Sugarcube? Is that what you call Tikki?" I said, raising an amused eyebrow at him.

"Yeah…" I swore I saw a slight blush on his face.

"Oh my god! You're in love with Tikki!" I started laughing so hard I had to sit down. Plagg, however, didn't think it was so funny. "And you were always on my case about being in love with Ladybug. I am never letting you down from this." I crossed my arms, smirking at him. "So. You wanna tell me why you were so shocked when you saw Ladybug?"

"Well. I mean, I guess it's just someone I never would have expected."

My eyes widened. "Plagg, what does that even mean? Is it someone I know then? I mean, you only know the people I know, right? Come on, you have to give me more than that."

"I've said too much! I've said too much!" Plagg suddenly started zipping all around the room. I guess he wasn't in the mood to continue this conversation.

I rolled my eyes. "Come on Plagg. You can't escape me. Just tell me more, please?"

Plagg stopped, looking suddenly relieved. He pointed out my window. I turned around slowly.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sight I saw. Paris was on fire.

"Sorry Adrien. When duty calls…"

"Plagg, this conversation is NOT over." I said before transforming into the version of me that I much preferred.