Marinette could not forget what she had thought the night before. She wished she could but throughout her entire home room class all she could do was stare at the back of Adriens head, attempting to make some connections to ChatNoir. The only thing similar were the rings on their hands, Adrien didn't talk like ChatNoir nor did ChatNoir's speech and mannerisms remind her of Adrien.

"Marinette, stare any harder and you'll burn a hole in his head." She jumped turning to look at Alya.

"What? Oh! I was just lost in thought again. I swear."

"Uh huh, not drooling over Adrien Agreste?"

"Psh, Alya please. We talked about that already."

"Uh huh."

Marinette decided not to answer that and instead go back to her scheming. Maybe Adrien was only like this because he was shy. Being Ladybug did give her a much needed confidence boost. She was sure she was fairly different as Ladybug than she was as Marinette. But even then, she was still the same person, just more confident and serious. That was because she had to be, it wasn't like she was a completely different person.

She froze for a moment really thinking about that.

Was she two completely different people?

Just great, Marinette Dupein-Cheng having an identity crisis at 18.

She was Marinette, and Marinette just happened to be Ladybug. That was all, certain circumstances demand certain that be the same with Adrien and ChatNoir?

The bell rang and Marinette was the first out of her seat moving to her free period. She heard her teacher prattle on about midterms and study guides, but she needed to sit down and really think this through. If Adrien was ChatNoir did she even want to know? What would that even do to their relationship? She was buried so deeply in her thoughts she didn't even notice Adrien watching her, worry etched in his features.

Ladybug supposed she could've handled this a bit better. What was she supposed to do now? What was she supposed to even say to him? Hey Adrien I know this might look weird but I just thought you maybe might be ChatNoir so I decided I'd drop in and see if that's true. So is it true? This was stupid. She turned to move away from his window before she heard it squeak open.

"Ladybug?"

Shit.

"Oh hi!"

"What are you doing here?"

Ladybug froze, staring at Adrien with slightly wide eyes. "J-just doing a perimeter sweep is all! Now that I know you're safe I can go!"

"Wait!"

She slowly turned back around and now it was Adriens turn to freeze. "Uh, I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yes." He seemed embarrassed for a moment, unable to say what he was thinking. "Uh, thank you... for always putting Paris before yourself. I'm sure that can't be easy, in the small time I was aspik I realized how difficult your job is."

That's right! Adrien was Aspik. There was no way he could be ChatNoir. They had been there together...right? She couldn't remember but she was pretty sure ChatNoir had been there with them.

"No problem Adrien. Just, doing what's right." She gave him a nod before turning to leave.

"And Ladybug!"

She turned to look at him over her shoulder. His face was bright red and Ladybug felt her heart skip a beat.

"Uh nothing. Be careful out there."

She gave him a warm smile and her shoulders softened. "You too." And with those final words she swung from his window and onto the roof of a nearby building.

How silly, to even think that Adrien could be ChatNoir. They were nothing alike, they didn't even really look alike. She felt like an idiot for even imagining the idea.

Adrien was soft and quiet. He was like a quiet night in, having tea and reading. Adrien was going shopping and having brunch and ChatNoir. ChatNoir was loud and rough. He was like flying across the city in the middle of the night, midnight adventures and taking risks, scary but exhilarating.

How could she even put the two together in her head.

She swung from the building, heading back home when she was smacked through the air into a building. She smashed through the glass falling onto one of the desks.

The fire alarm went off and she could hear people screaming and running out of the building. Holy hell, had that hurt. She pushed herself up, rubbing her head and looking at her hand. Blood? Well that didn't usually happen. Ladybug stood up and looked out of the window, wondering what on Earth had hit her hard enough for her to actually feel it through the suit.

Her eyes widened when she stared at the large tree-like monster. It was long and skinny with spiked branches poking out all of its limbs. The ent had two giant antlers on its head as it walked smacking its long arms into buildings, destroying them. Ladybug watched in horror as people dove out of its way, cars flying through the air. Hawkmoth was truly despicable. She staggered to her feet extending her yoyo towards it. It noticed her and attempted to hit her again but this time she was prepared and released her Yoyo, tucking and rolling through an already smashed window on the other side.

"Hey bugaboo." She heard ChatNoir suck in a breath as he ran over to her. "Ladybug, you're bleeding." He swiped his thumb over her forehead smearing the blood that had been trickling down her face. "What happened?"

"I have no idea." She winced back when he touched her and he pulled his hand back.

"Is Hawkmoth getting stronger? I thought we were supposed to be indestructible."

"I don't know Chat. Maybe it's a special akuma, or something to do with his miraculous? I'm not sure. Whatever it is we need to get rid of this Akuma."

"I second that. Alright…" Chat peeked his head out of the window. "So it's big...and a tree?"

"How much do you want to bet it's Lily, from the garden shop. I heard her business hasn't been doing too well."

Chat looked sad, before turning back to Ladybug. "Do you know Lily well?"

"No. My parents do though. They like to buy her plants, and I do sometimes, but there's only so many plants one person can buy. What I do know is." She staggered forward leaning on ChatNoir. "She always wears a flower charm necklace. Apparently her late father had given it to her along with the store. I remember hearing her speak about it when going to pick out a plant. My mother had complimented her on it or something."

"You think the Akuma is in the necklace?"

"I do. That is if she's even wearing it."

"Well then lets go get it." Chat went to run but Ladybug snatched his tail dragging him back.

"Not so fast Kittycat. Do you see what she did to me? If we rush in there without a plan we could get seriously hurt."

He nodded slowly, regaining his balance. "Then what?"

"Lucky Charm!" A large pink flower costume fluttered down into her hands and Chat stared at her in confusion.

"I'll ask again. Then what?" She walked to the window watching the ent move around smashing buildings, but then it clicked. She smirked, looking at chat, eyeing him up and down.

"I've got a plan."

"I don't like that look on your face Ladybug."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Hush, it's the only thing I can think of until I can get close enough to know if she's actually Lily or not."

"This is so dumb."

"No it's not, you look great."

"Care to explain why I'm a flower?"

"You see she's not hurting the plants, just people and man made things, so just run around like that and distract her." Chat groaned looking at himself in the window.

"So I just gotta run around and get her to chase me?"

"That's it. Just be careful ok? I'm fairly sure I'm right but I don't know what I would do if you got hurt."

His smile softened and he gently brushed her wound with his thumb. "I'll be ok." With that, he jumped out of the window, running after the creature. Ladybug watched him, her heart hammering in her chest. Not now. She scolded herself mentally, this was not time to be staring at ChatNoirs strong back as he ran away from her. She slapped herself again, making her way to the roof of the building. She could see the Ent circling attempting to gently pick up ChatNoir as he ran circles around her. It made her chuckle softly. She jumped across rooftops attempting to stay hidden as she made her way over to the two of them. When she got to the roof directly next to them she noticed the small pendant on its neck. The rest was rather fast, Chat cataclysmed the floor trapping the ent in a small hole. Ladybug jumped, snatched the pendant and broke it, capturing and in turn releasing the akuma.

It was Lily, sitting on the floor sobbing into her hands and it broke Ladybugs heart. Chat handed her the flower hood back and she launched it into the air repairing everything around her. Several parisians noticed Lily and offered to take her home. Chat approached Ladybug, worry in his eyes when he noticed the blood still on her head.

"Ladybug. It didn't heal you."

"My powers don't work on myself silly. That'd be like a healer in an rpg able to use their healing spell on themselves. Doesn't work that way."

"It does in some games." He said quickly.

"I'll be ok Chat, it's just a small scratch."

"I don't believe you but." He paused biting his lip. "I won't fight with you on it." he moved to run off, but stopped turning back to her. He ran over wrapping her in his arms, holding her tightly before finally taking off. Ladybug stood there in shock before several reporters brought her out of her stupor. Though, she still looked behind Chat, watching him run off before turning to the reporters and forcing a smile for the cameras.

Marinette had no idea how she was going to explain this away. A deep gash sat on her forehead from the glass, it ran all the way from her head down to her eyebrow. She had tried hiding it with a bandage but it was still very obvious. Curse her powers, though she never thought she'd need them for herself. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time? She fell down her stairs? She was trying to peel an apple?

"Marinette?" She jumped slightly, turning to face ChatNoir.

"Look at you, no longer needing to knock huh? What if I was changing?"

"Then lucky me."

"Chat!" She scolded, flinging the closest object to her hand at him. Which, lucky for him, happened to be a pillow.

"I'm kidding I'm kidding." He laughed though he stopped when he noticed the large bandaid on her head. "Woah, what happened to you?"

"I walked into a metal pole earlier." She said quickly. Wow, maybe she really could give Lila a run for her money. "I was carrying some new fabric and I was looking down at it and just bam." She clapped her hands together, imitating the accident.

"Some pole. Does it hurt?"

Marinette pulled on her fingers. "Yes."

"Oh Marinette. I feel like I'm always telling you to be careful."

"I did tell you accidents seem to find me didn't I?"

"I suppose you did." He chuckled, brushing his hand over her head, pulling her bangs away from the bandage. He seemed to really be studying the wound and Marinette felt her heart start to hammer in her chest. Had he made the connection? Chat leaned down, pressing his lips to her bandage and she swore her heart stopped in her chest. "I still wish you'd be more careful though." he pulled away looking at her face and the two stood frozen staring at each other. She watched his cheeks turn red and he pulled away looking anywhere but at her. "So, did you see the akuma attack today?"

"I did. You and Ladybug handled it amazing as always. Should I call be calling you Chatflower now?" She asked teasingly, though her cheeks were probably as red as his.

"It does sound cute doesn't it?"

"It does." She paused sitting down on her desk chair. Chat leaned against her desk next to her crossing his arms. "I'm going to tell Luka tomorrow."

"That's good." She looked at him raising an eyebrow. "Well, not good because it's over but good because you'll both get closure."

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just a little nervous."

"Don't be. I told you, I'll be there for you."

"I know. But you won't be there when I tell him and that's the part I'm most scared of. I don't want to see him sad."

"I'm sure it'll be ok."

"I know it will." She turned to look at him. "Afterall, I'll still have you right?"

Chat stared at her eyes wide before smiling. "Yeah, you'll always have me."

Marinette found herself wishing those words meant more, she was realizing slowly how much she truly liked having Chat around and maybe she did want him more than just as a friend. Though, she could never let herself truly admit that, afterall look at where those thoughts had gotten her with Luka. Adrien was the only one for her, and strangely enough, she was starting to resent that. "Hawkmoths looks like he's getting more aggressive." She said softly, gauging Chat's reaction. He frowned, clenching his fists.

"Ladybug got hurt today." He told her. She feigned surprise, tilting her head.

"I don't think I recall you two ever truly getting hurt."

"We're not supposed to. Our suits make us indestructible. I normally don't even feel anything from those hits, other than the wind getting knocked out of me I don't think anything has ever truly affected me. Maybe he has another miraculous?"

Marinette froze. She hadn't thought of that. What if he had another miraculous that was used to affect other miraculous holders? Afterall there were more miraculous now than ever. Definitely more than she had just in the box. What if Hawk Moth had another miraculous?!

"Marinette?" She looked up at Chat panic in her eyes, and he looked confused for a moment. "Marinette, calm down. It's ok Ladybug and I can handle anything he throws our way." That could not be less true. What were they going to do?

"I'm scared." She admitted.

He looked worried kneeling down in front of her. He took her hands in his and gave them a firm squeeze. "Marinette, I won't let anyone or anything hurt you. You have no reason to be frightened ok?" Again, ChatNoir couldn't know how wrong he was, though his eyes were hard, as though he meant every word. She couldn't bring herself to disagree.

"Ok."