Chapter 10: Miss Bustier's Secret

Marinette was speechless, and the same thing could be said for Adrien. They had come looking for a mysterious cosplayer at her apartment, and ended up finding out their teacher was that very same cosplayer. Looking her in the eyes, Marinette did not know what to say, or what to think. Inside her head, her neurons were short-circuiting, trying to make sense of what was going on. But she was not the only one who was having trouble processing all that. Adrien was confused as well. Miss Bustier was the last person he was hoping to see that Saturday, especially in those circumstances.

"M-Miss Bustier… M-Miss Bustier… M-Miss Bustier…" -Marinette stuttered, repeatedly.

"I think her mind just snapped." -Tikki thought to herself. –"And who can blame her? Miss Bustier is a famous cosplayer? Even I did not see that coming." -she thought.

"Marinette, is everything alright?" -Miss Bustier asked her.

"I-I-I…" -Marinette continued to stutter.

"I-I think she's just a little bit in shock." -Adrien said. –"And she's not the only one. This looks like something out of the Twilight Zone or any other show that deals with twisted endings." -he thought to himself.

"I was afraid something like this would happen." -Miss Bustier sighed. –"Please, come in." -she said.

Caline Bustier was feeling awful about what was happening. And she was not just feeling that way because of Marinette's shock, when she and Adrien saw her, hoping to see someone else. She was feeling awful, because she had lied to Marinette, even if she had not used any words to do so. Trying not to think about it, she led them to the living room, and told them make themselves at home, while she was going to the kitchen to get them both a glass of water.

Sating on one of the couches, Adrien continued to hold Marinette's hand, hoping it would help the shock she was in to end. Telling her to look him in the eyes, Adrien pulled her into a kiss. He did not have a clue of what he was doing, but he figured that if he could make Marinette think about something else, she would calm down. The kiss lasted a couple of seconds, and just as he anticipated, Marinette calm down a bit.

"Sorry about the sudden kiss, milady, but I thought you needed to calm down a little." -Adrien smiled at her.

"T-Thanks, Adrien… I don't know why, but my mind's just… I don't even know how to express what's going through my mind right now." -Marinette said.

"I know what you mean. I'm also shocked with what just happened." -Adrien told her, while gently squeezing her hand a little harder, trying to provide the reassurance she needed to calm down.

"You ain't the only ones. I'm also surprised that your teacher has a secret identity, like you two." -Plagg commented, form inside the pocket he was hiding in.

"Plagg, hush! Miss Bustier might hear you." -Tikki warned him in a hushed voice, from inside Marinette's pochette.

A few seconds later, Miss Bustier entered the living room, with a glass of water in each hand. Giving them to Marinette and Adrien, she then sat on the armchair facing the couch they were seated on, and waited for them to drink the water. Looking at them, she saw the confusion and the shock mirrored on their faces.

"Feeling a little better, Marinette?" -Miss Bustier asked, as Marinette sipped the water from the glass.

"A-A little…" -Marinette said, while looking her teacher in the eyes. –"I-I'm s-sorry, Miss Bustier, but…" -she hesitated.

"I know, it's a lot to process." -Miss Bustier said. –"My sister also reacted a little bit like you, when she found out that I was secretly a famous cosplayer." -she admitted.

"It sure is a lot to process…" -Plagg thought to himself, inside Adrien's jacket pocket. –"I was definitely not expecting something like this to happen." -he thought.

A few more seconds went by, without any of them speaking a word. Marinette continued to stare at their teacher, wondering how was it possible for her not to have recognized her in all the photos and videos that she had posted as her cosplay persona. The blue-haired. As for Adrien, his eyes were scouring the living room. He had read that there are two rooms in the house that could tell a lot about a person's personality. The first being the bedroom and the second being the living room. He was not surprised to see bookshelves filled with books adorning the cream-painted walls, or the family photos that were on those same bookshelves, or the dining table, or the television console. What surprised him was the lack of photos or any kind of memorabilia regarding cosplay or any other hobby their teacher might have. No one would ever say that she had that hobby, from the way her living room looked. That made him assume that whatever hobby related stuff she would have, ought to be in her bedroom or another room in the house.

"I imagine that you have questions… both of you." -Miss Bustier told them both. –"But I think the one question you probably want me to answer first is, why… why did I kept my identity a secret, and why I didn't tell you that I am LettersGirl, am I right?"

After she said that, an uneasy silence filled the room, as Miss Bustier tried her best to find a way to answer that question, with the right words. She did not want that neither Marinette, nor Adrien felt that she was toying with them, and so, choosing the right words to answer any questions they had, was crucial to that effect.

"I guess so." -Marinette said, with an easy voice. –"S-Sorry, if I look… it's just that I'm still processing that you are…" -she said.

"I understand, and please, take your time, Marinette." -Miss Bustier said.

Cleaning her thoughts, Marinette tried to make heads or tails of what was going on. She kept telling herself, that she had seen things that were far more surprising and unbelievable, than finding out her teacher was secretly a famous cosplayer. But no matter how many times she told herself that, the whole thing was completely surreal.

"I know that you are confused, And I hope you aren't feeling betrayed or angry, for not revealing this to you earlier." -Miss Bustier said. –"It was never my intention to make you feel like that." -she told them, with the sincerest of all voices. And even if her voice was not the sincerest of all, her eyes were mirroring that very same sincerity.

"Of course, not, Miss Bustier." -Marinette said. –"Surprised and speechless, definitely, but betrayed or angry, never." -she thought to herself. –"I could never be angry at you, because of something like this… and I'm sure you must have your reasons for not revealing to us, or anyone else that you are LettersGirl."

"She's right. Don't think that we would ever be angry at you, because of something like this." -Adrien declared. –"It's just… well, we were both caught out of guard, when you opened the door, because you're the last person in the world, that we thought would be this cosplayer that commissioned Marinette." -he added.

And that was the truth, and nothing else but the truth. Both of them were caught out of guard, by that whole situation. But more importantly, Marinette and Adrien knew what it meant to have a secret that they could not tell anyone, so they understood that some. All they wished was to know why their teacher had decided to reveal her secret to them.

"Adrien's right. We weren't expecting for you to show up in front of us." -Marinette said, as she took another sip of water. –"But I confess that I would really like to know why you did this. Why did you decide to reveal that you were LettersGirl to me, when you haven't done that to anyone else in the world?" -she asked her. –"Your real identity is something that's a matter of discussion in countless online forums, and…"

"I guess there really isn't an easy answer for that, I'm afraid. The truth is, I do have my reasons for not revealing who I really am, and I will get to them in due time. But maybe I should start this explanation from the point where you come into it, Marinette." -Miss Bustier declared. –"When I sent you that first email, asking for your help, the plan was for me to just send you the design patterns and my measurements, and we would continue to keep contact strictly online." -she said. –"That was going to be the plan."

"Then, why did you ask me to come and meet you?" -Marinette asked her." –"Why did you decide to do that, instead of just sending me your measurements and the design patterns, Miss Bustier?" -she insisted on the question, hoping she would answer her.

"I don't really know why I did what I did, to be honest. But something inside me told me that I needed to do it. I know, it's probably not the answer you were expecting, Marinette, but it's the truth… and so, I invited you to take my measurements, instead of just sending them to you, claiming that you would do a better job, if you yourself took my measurements, which isn't a lie." -Miss Bustier told Marinette. –"When I did that, I felt both happy and scared at the same time, which made me panic a little bit, and wonder if I had done the right thing by asking you to come here, and allow my secret to be revealed… At first, I wasn't going to reveal my identity to you I was going to wear the mask you see there, and try to disguise my voice, so you wouldn't recognize it." -she said, while pointing at a Kabuki mask that was on top of the coffee table. –"But then, the more I thought about what my mind was begging me to do, the more I felt that I was being a fool, and I was acting like a child, who had done something wrong and was about to scolded by their parents. And so, I decided that I couldn't simply lie to you, one of my students, whom I love so much, and that when you came to meet me, I would greet you the way you saw, and tell you the truth."

That was indeed not the answer Marinette was expecting. She expected a more elaborated answer from Miss Bustier. But even not being the answer, she was expecting, she respected and tried to understand it. She could see and hear from her teacher's voice that she was trying her hardest to explain herself and her reasons for doing what she did.

"Would like you something to eat? I usually say that a pot of tea and some cookies are the perfect way for one to have a pleasant conversation." -Miss Bustier said with a smile.

"A cup of tea sounds like a lovely idea." -Marinette said, with Adrien nodding as head.

"Then, I'll come back in a few minutes. Make yourselves at home." -Miss Bustier said.

At the same time, in the Kubdel residence, Alix was getting ready to go skating. After the week she had, where she was used as a punching bag by Hawk Moth's latest lieutenant, Rapier, she needed to unwind and get her thoughts in order. And she knew no better way to do it, than to go out and skate for an hour or two. But there was someone who did not like that idea. And that someone was none other than Alix's kwami, Daria.

"You shouldn't go out to skate, Alix." -Daria told her. –"You need to take it easy." -Daria warned her.

"Forget it, Daria. I'm fit as fiddle." -Alix said, as she put on her rollerblades.

"May I remind you that Master Fu worked on you for nearly half hour, until you were properly healed from the beating you took?" -Daria asked her, with a serious look on his face. –"You looked like you had been run over by a truck, and he did say that you shouldn't strain yourself for the next couple of days." -he reminded her. –"He even said that if there was another Akuma attack, that you shouldn't participate in it, and leave it to the others."

Alix was aware of what happened to her, and how lucky she had been. Rapier had done a number on her, and it had not been for Master Fu's intervention, she might have ended up in a hospital bed, with injuries that would haunt her for the rest of her life. She was grateful for the old master's help, as well as the help of her friends, who protected her when she was hurt, and who later took her to the Garden of the Ancients, so Master Fu could heal her injuries. Still, she was not kind of person who liked to stand still, even when she knew she ought to.

"Skating a few laps around the block is me taking it easy, Daria." -Alix said. –"Besides, if I don't get out for a little bit, I'm going to go insane. I need some fresh air." -she declared.

"I know that you would rather be outside. But after what you went through, you should count yourself lucky, and take it easy." -Daria stated. –"Why don't you go help your brother with his research?" -he suggested her. –"That way, you would keep you busy, and you wouldn't have to go outside."

"Help Jalil? Forget it. I'm not in the mood to hear his crazy theories about how a piece of clay with some glyphs can be a map to Atlantis." -Alix said. –"By the way, Atlantis isn't real, or is it? I ask you, because with everything that we deall with so far, I wouldn't be surprised if it is or was real." -she stated.

"As far as I know, it is real, at least according to the books I read in the Garden of the Ancients. But its existence predates the creation of the miraculouses and the Miraculous Order, in at least a millennium. So, there isn't much information about it." -Daria told her. –"But it is known that it wasn't a supercontinent. It was just an island, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean… Plato got that one right, when he talked about it." -she told her.

"And with that, you just solved a mystery that's been haunting so many people for centuries." -Alix joked. –"If my brother got a hold of you, or any of the other kwamis, I bet he would make sure to ask you questions about pretty much every civilization you guys showed up in, until he had enough material to write 100 or 200 encyclopaedias." -she chuckled.

"You joke, but your brother is incredibly talented and passionate about his job." -Daria defended him.

"And I'm not talented and passionate?!" -Alix asked her kwami, while raising an eyebrow at him.

"Of course, you are. But in a different way." -Daria told her. –"The difference is that your brother is more academically talented and passionate, while you… well, you excel in more physical activities." -he pointed out.

"In other words, you're saying that he's good with books, while I'm just a female jock." -Alix said, upset.

"There's nothing wrong with being an athlete, Alix. You are talented in areas that most people will never be, and that makes you special in your own way." -Daria declared. –"And no, I didn't read this on a fortune cookie, in case you're thinking that."

Alix knew Daria was speaking the truth, but it was hard for her to admit it. She had been raised to believe that people with academic skills were better than mist people, when it came to their intelligence and to the way the world perceived them. But unlike her family, she had never been one to have her nose stuck in a book She had always been a more outdoors person, and she was okay with that. So, when her kwami reassured her that it was okay to being the way she was, she felt better about herself.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah… well, like I said, I'm going out to skate for a little bit. Are you coming or not?" -Alix asked Daria. –"Come on, I'll buy you a jar of pickles." -she told him, secretly wanting him to come with her.

"You had me at jar of pickles." -Daria smiled at her, before jumping inside her back pocket.

Returning with a tray of biscuits and a steaming pot of camomile tea, Caline Bustier poured the tea into teacups, before handing them to her students. While she prepared the tea and the tray of biscuits, she had had the time to think of what she was going to tell them. Pouring herself a cup of tea as well, she then sat on the armchair. Sipping the still steaming tea, she began to tell them what they were curious to know.

"This all started a couple of years ago. I had just been transferred from a school in Nantes to here, and I was starting to get accustomed to living in Paris, which is a lot larger than Nantes is, as you know." -Miss Bustier explained, her voice revealing a little bit of hesitation. –"Like I said, I had just moved here and I didn't know anyone in Paris. One day, I was out shopping for groceries, when I passed by a person whos' handing out fliers. I grabbed one and to my surprise, it was a flier announcing a small anime and comic convention that was going to take place that weekend. I admit it that I wasn't interested at first, but because I didn't have anything to do that weekend, which was also the weekend before I had to present myself at our school, I decided to attend it. I felt that it would be an interesting experience, and I wouldn't have to stay home and watch television." -she said. –"To my surprise, I never expected to see so many people at that kind of event. And more importantly, so many people my age and older as well. I was expecting to see people your age and younger there, but never my age and older. I don't know why I thought such a thing back then, but I did. So, it was a bit of a shock to me."

Marinette and Adrien remained silent, as Miss Bustier continued to tell her tale. In their heads, they both wondered how that tale would end, even though they had a pretty good idea of how it did. But they were not the only ones who were silently listening to her. Tikki and Plagg were also listening, and just like the holders of their miraculouses, they too wanted to know the rest of Miss Bustier's tale.

"It did not take long for me to realize that I had done the right thing. I was never a person that would pay attention to fandoms and such. I mean, I watched the movies, the series and I would read some books, but that was it. But for some reason, I felt at home, while attending that convention." -Miss Bustier said. –"And then, I met someone, who was already a veteran at that sort of things and whom I spent the rest of that day. An older gentleman, who was more than delighted to show me around and to tell me more about that world. He taught me so much about his own experiences at that sort of event, and was happy to see someone like me there." -she declared. –"When we parted ways, he told me that he hoped to see me at another convention, and I answered him that if I attended another one, I wouldn't mind talking to him again. I got so carried away that I didn't even asked him his name, and he did the same thing… when I realized that, I was already back home, and I wondered if I would ever see him again. Little did I know that I would see him again, the following day, when I reported in the principal's office, his office, at Collège Françoise-Dupont."

When they heard her say that, they were once again surprised, by the sudden realization that the old gentleman she was talking about was none other than their principal.

"W-Wait… the older gentleman you met at the convention was…" -Adrien said.

"Yes, it was Principal Damocles." -Miss Bustier smiled. –"Turns out he's a very big fan of an old comic book character that was all the rage when he was younger, called "The Owl", and he likes to attend conventions, so he can cosplay as him." -she said.

"Wait! Are you telling me that Principal Damocles is a cosplayer, as well?!" –Marinette asked, surprised. –"I wonder if all the teachers in school are secretly cosplayers, and nobody knows it?" -she thought to herself, though she knew the odds of that being true were quite slim, and it was easier to believe that both Miss Bustier and the principal were the only faculty members of that school who cosplayed. –"Nah, that's too crazy to happen."

"That explains the outfit I saw hidden in his office, back in February, when Aphrodite attacked Paris." -Plagg thought to himself.

"Yes, he is. But unlike me and other cosplayers, he only cosplays that one character he loves." -Miss Bustier said.

"So, you met Principal Damocles at a cosplay convention." -Marinette stated.

"Yes, I did. Of course, I didn't know he was the principal of the school I had been transferred to, when I met him at the convention, and he did not know that I was the teacher that it had been transferred there." -Miss Bustier said. –"You can imagine my surprise, when I walked into his office, to introduce myself, ready to start working and I recognized him, and he recognized me. My reaction was exactly like yours, when I opened the door for you:" -she said. –"He's also the only other person in school, who knows I'm LettersGirl."

"The whole scene must have been awkward." -Adrien declared.

"And it was." –Miss Bustier

"I didn't plan on becoming a cosplayer. It was just one of those things that happened." -Miss Bustier admitted. –"And when I began, just like everyone else, I didn't know what I was doing. With time, I became better at it, and with each new character I decided I wanted to cosplay, the bar was set a little higher. I was never a very competitive person, but I always liked to challenge myself, to see if I could do better than before. Soon, I began to cosplay characters that had their face covered, or needed to wear prosthetics, and that was a challenge that was both satisfying, and it also gave me something that I needed… anonymity." -she confessed. –"Of course, I never expected to get this famous, and this fast. I can't say that I dislike being a famous cosplayer, but if people found out who I really am, I would be in trouble."

"Trouble? What do you mean by being in trouble, Miss Bustier?" -Marinette asked, as she ate a cookie.

"I mean that if people at school, and I don't mean the other teachers, or even the students. I mean. the students' parents; if they found out that I am LettersGirl, they would not understand what I do or why I do it, and I would probably lose my job." -Miss Bustier declared.

"But why would you lose your job over that?" -Adrien asked her. –"It's just a hobby, like any other, Miss Bustier." -he said.

"Because certain people, don't see cosplay and other related activities as something appropriate for a teacher to do. Especially when they are women." -Miss Bustier explained. –"And you must remember that you attend one of the most prestigious schools in Paris. People comment and if word was found out that I was LettersGirl, I would most likely be invited by some parents to leave the school." -she said.

"Then, that's the reason why you don't show your face when you cosplay. If people can't recognize you, you can be whoever you are." -Marinette said, understanding. –"That also explains why even with characters whose face is not covered, you find a way to cover most of it." -she said.

"Yes." -Miss Bustier said. –"Not revealing my full face, while cosplaying, is the price that I must pay for continuing to do it." -she said.

Hearing her say that, Marinette felt that just like her, Adrien and the rest of their class, Miss Bustier could not reveal who she really was to the world. The reasons and the consequences were different, but at the same time, they were similar. And knowing and feeling what it was to not be able to reveal a secret to no one, so the world could continue to spin the same way it always does, the blue-haired girl felt empathy towards her teacher, and wished she did not have to keep such a secret from everyone.

"Well, my parents wouldn't want you to go, just because you're a cosplayer, that's for sure." -Marinette said

"And I don't think my dad would care about it either. Sure, he's a bit strict about certain things, and he can be a little judgemental, but I don't think he would demand for you to be fired, just because you cosplay. As long as my grades continued to be good, he wouldn't raise any trouble. Neither him, nor any of our class's parents. But yes, there would be some parents, who wouldn't be happy to know that." -Adrien admitted, as he imagined how the parents of certain students in that school would react, upon finding out.

"But why would they? It's not like being a cosplayer is a bad thing. In fact, it's a wonderful thing. And on top of that, none of your cosplays can be considered offensive or inappropriate, Miss Bustier… I don't think I'm cut out to be a cosplayer, but if I was one, I would want to be like you." -Marinette said.

Hearing her say that, Caline smiled. It warmed her heart to hear Marinette saying that. She had had people in conventions telling her that they wanted to be like her. But hearing one of her students say those words, it was different and it felt different, in a nice way.

"I thank you for the kind words, Marinette. But unfortunately, one can't change the way some people think about certain things, just because we might be right and the others wrong." -Miss Bustier told her. –"You remember what I told you and the rest of the class, earlier this year, when we were talking about how society judges and labels people and things, especially when they are different, or when they don't understand them or even try to understand them? That is exactly what happens with cosplay and other hobbies that aren't inserted into the selected hobbies that society deems normal… well, maybe not society as a whole, but a good portion of people, especially older people, and people who can't see the appeal in those hobbies." -she said.

"But it's not fair, Miss Bustier." -Marinette declared. –"People shouldn't judge you for this hobby. It's not like you're a drug addict or a criminal." -she said. –"You're a wonderful teacher. The best teacher we could've asked for, Miss Bustier, and it's only fair for you to do something you're so passionate about. Just because you're a teacher, doesn't mean that you aren't a human being and that you don't deserve to be happy spending your free time, doing what you like."

"And I wish everyone would think just like you do, Marinette." -Miss Bustier smiled at her. –"Unfortunately, like I'm always telling you, the world isn't black and white, even though we want it to be sometimes. And there will always be people, who don't understand that." -she declared. –"But I'm glad you do understand, and that's what matters, because you will teach others that important lesson, and maybe one day, people won't get judged for what they do in their spare time, no matter what their job is."

Like it happened to many times, since she became her teacher, Marinette got emotional, and shed a small tear. It always amazed her how Miss Bustier was always able to see the bright side of any situation, and how even in the darkest circumstances, she found a way to see the light, in hopes that it would shine brighter than ever.

"You truly are the sweetest and kindest teacher in the world, Miss Bustier." -Marinette declared, her heart filled with joy.

"Indeed. I know we've said this before, but we couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Especially because we could've ended up in Miss Mendeliev's class, and everyone knows that she's not exactly the nicest person in the world." -Adrien commented.

"That's no way to talk about Miss Mendeliev, Adrien. Just because she's not as nice as I am, doesn't mean she's a bad person." -Miss Bustier told him, once again showing the unmistakable teacher that lived inside her. –"But thank you for those nice words, nonetheless. I am happy to know that you are so fond of me." -she smiled at them.

"And it's not just us, Miss Bustier. Everyone in our class love you." -Marinette said. –"We're always saying that you're like a second mother to us, and that's the truth. We owe you so much. And I know said this already, but it's not fair. You shouldn't have to hide this from everyone, over the risk of being fired for doing something you love so much." -she declared.

Praises and loving words went on, as they continued to talk. Like the curious kids they were, Marinette and Adrien continued to ask all kinds of questions to Miss Bustier.

"By the way, what about your cosplayer name? How did you come up with it?" -Adrien asked her, curious.

"Oh, that… I would like to say that I pondered about it, but I would be lying about it, and you know that I teach you all that lying isn't something we should do on a regular basis." -Miss Bustier said. –"I came up with it on the spot, the first time I entered a competition. When they told me that I wasn't required to use my real name to go up on the stage, I came up with the name, by using the first words that came to my mind." -she admitted, with a smile on her face. –"I'm sorry if you thought the name meant anything, Adrien."

"By the way, do you mind if we tell the rest of the class about you?" -Marinette asked her, shyly. –"It's just that I won't feel good about myself, if I keep a secret this big from them, especially if it isn't a bad secret." -she said. –"I know that what I'm asking is a lot, especially since you just told me and Adrien about it, and I don't want you to think that I don't respect your decision of not revealing your secret to anyone. But I can promise you that they won't reveal your secret to anyone. Just like us, they don't want to see their favourite teacher losing her job."

Upon hearing such a request, Miss Bustier hesitated in answering her right away. Her rational side was telling her that if she told her yes, she would risk her identity being found and her secret exposed. But her emotional side, was telling her that she could trust her students to keep her secret safe; after all, she had revealed it to two of them already. It was a tough decision to make. Still, the way Marinette spoke those words, touched her heart and made her smile. If she allowed her to tell her classmates, she would be taking a very big risk, But the fact that she knew her whole class had a good heart and had shown just how responsible they were, over and over, was what allowed her to say yes to Marinette's request.

"Of course, you can, Marinette." -Miss Bustier smiled at her.

"Thank you, Miss Bustier. And don't worry, I promise that we'll make the others swear that they won't reveal your secret to anyone else. We'll guard it with our lives, if we have to." -Marinette declared, as she got up and went to hug her teacher. –"If we can keep our superhero identities a secret from everyone, I'm sure we can keep this secret of yours safe." -she thought to herself, as she placed her arms around Miss Bustier.

Returning the nurturing gesture, Caline Bustier had been taught that a good teacher should always be there for her students, but to also set emotional boundaries, so as to not get too involved in their personal lives and problems. But it was times like that, that she was sure that doing such a thing ought to be a crime. She believed, more than anything, that it was a teacher's duty to be there for their students and to support them inside and outside the classroom. Not being married and not having any children, her students were the closest thing she had to her own children, and she had promised herself, to always be there for them and to help them grow, both academically and emotionally. And letting them know such a big secret in her life, was to allow them to share something more with her, like people do in life.

"Well, I think that's enough emotions, or else, I'll start crying and I don't want to cry in front of you." -Miss Bustier told them with her sweet and melodious voice. –"And changing the subject, are you still interested in accepting this commisson I asked you?"-she asked her, smiling tenderly.

"Of course." -Marinette smiled. –"It would be my pleasure to help you with the jacket." -she said. –"But… now that I think about it, why did you ask me for help? I mean, it's obvious that you are a better seamstress that I am."

"A better seamstress than you, Marinette? No, I'm just a more seasoned seamstress than you are. I admit that I may have more practice in sewing and creating certain things than you, but I too still have much to learn." -Miss Bustier said, as she got up. –"As for the reason why I asked you for help, is because my sewing machine broke and even if I sent it to get fixed, it wouldn't come back in time for me to finish the jacket for the competition I'm entering at Japan Expo." -she said.

"So, Alya was right. The competition will be during Japan Expo." -Marinette thought to herself. –"I see… then, I promise that I'll do everything in my power to create that jacket you have commissioned me, and make it as beautiful and stylish as you needed it, Miss Bustier." -she said, with a determined voice and a serious look in her eyes.

"I know you will, Marinette." -Miss Bustier smiled. –"But I'm afraid you won't be able to do it, if you don't have my measurements." -she said.

"Oh, right!" -Marinette chuckled, as she realized how right her teacher was. –"Then, let me just take your measurements…" -she said, as she was about to get her measuring tape.

"Why don't we do this in my sewing room?" -Miss Bustier asked her. –"We'll be more comfortable there." -she said.

"If it you think it's best." -Marinette concurred.

"I'll wait here, in the living room, if that's okay? -Adrien asked.

"Of course, Adrien. Like I said, make yourself at home. If you want to, you can pick one a book from the bookshelves or turn on the television." –Miss Bustier told him.

"Don't worry. I won't take long, Adrien." -Marinette smiled at him. –"We'll make it in time to watch the movie." -she promised him, as she followed Miss Bustier.

Marinette's mind was still a bit of a mess, regarding the fact that LettersGirl and her teacher were the very same person, but she tried to put that to the side, as she followed Miss Bustier. One of the things she had tried to imagine, other than how LettersGirl would look like, was how her sewing room would look like. And on that day, she had her wishes fulfilled. She had found out how LettersGirl looked like, and was about to find out how her sewing room looked like.

Entering it, Marinette was amazed by just how spacious it was. The room was just as large as the living room and had the same kind of décor. There was fabric of all kinds of colours everywhere. On a small work bench was a sewing machine, which Marinette recognized as the kind used by most cosplayers, to create the most amazing outfits. On numerous shelves were also trophies and pieces of memorabilia. As her eyes catalogued everything she saw, Marinette could not help but to feel like she had stepped into a treasure room, filled with some of the most amazing she had seen.

"Miss Bustier, this is incredible." -Marinette said, as she looked around and tried to identify the various kinds of memorabilia that rested on the walls of her sewing room. –"Is that a Helm of Domination?" -she asked her, recognizing it from one of the many World of Warcraft art books Max has taken with him to class, to show her and the others.

"Yes, yest it is." -Miss Bustier smiled. –"I am not a very big fan of World of Warcraft, but I do love aesthetic of some of the armours in that game. I bought it two years ago, at Blizzard Con." -she admitted it.

It was then that Marinette noticed something that caught her eye. To her left, there were three mannequins that were dressed with unfinished cosplays, which Miss Bustier had been working on. And one of them, broadened Marinette's smile.

"You're working on a Ladybug cosplay too?" -Marinette asked, as she approached the mannequin and observed the costume, which looked like an upgraded version of her own outfit.

"Yes. It's a more grown-up version of her outfit. I found its design online, and I fell in love with it." -Miss Bustier admitted. –"I began to work on it, in January, and was supposed to have it finished in time for Japan Expo, but I ended up deciding I needed something a little bit more unique, for the competition." -she said.

"I see. Well, I think you would look lovely as an older Ladybug." -Marinette said, as she looked at the outfit. –"Miss Bustier is going to rock this outfit, once it's finished. Even I wouldn't mind if my outfit looked like it." -she thought to herself, as she continued to

"Thank you." -Miss Bustier thanked her.

"Oh, I remember this one. You looked so amazing as a female Master Chief from Halo." -Marinette said, as she looked at the cosplay armour, which was missing its helmet, its left arm and leg.

"I decided to remake the whole outfit, because the initial version was too hot to wear in closed spaces." -Miss Bustier admitted. –"Still have a lot of work to do on that one, before I can deem it finished." -she told her. –"Well, then, when you're ready, you can take my measurements, and then, I can show you the patterns I came up for the vest."

"Okay, let me just get my measuring tape, which I know is somewhere around here…" -Marinette said, as she opened her pochette and Tikki handed her the measuring tape and a little notepad and a pen. –"Here we are… alright, let's see your measurements." -she said, as she began by measuring Miss Bustier's arms.

"By the way, did I hear you right, when you told Adrien that you would make it in time to the movies." -Miss Bustier pointed out. – "By chance, are you two…"

"Oh, yes, we're dating." -Marinette chirped happily. –"But we try our best not to show it, when we're in class." -she declared.

"Oh, I see." -Miss Bustier said. –"I'm very happy for you two." -she smiled at her. –"But, and I don't want to sound like a nagging teacher, especially because we're not at school, you two need to be careful."

"Careful? Oh, you mean…" -Marinette said, before she was interrupted.

"Oh, no, I don't mean that. I know you and Adrien are quite responsible, Marinette. I was talking about your grades." -Miss Bustier said. –"I know what it is to be in love for the first time, and I'm quite happy for you, and for Adrien as well. But I know how young love is, and how it sometimes makes people forget about their responsibilities." -she commented, as Marinette wrote on her notepad. –"And I don't want your grades, or Adrien's to get affected by your dating."

"Don't worry, Miss Bustier. I understand what you're saying." -Marinette smiled at her. –"Plus, Adrien's dad warned us that if his grades started to slip, he would forbid us from dating. And neither Adrien, nor I want that to happen." -she said.

"I'm glad to know you're taking this seriously. There's nothing wrong about love, especially when this one's young and true." -Miss Bustier said, as Marinette measured her neck. –"But like everything else, one must be careful not to let love blind it from what is important." -she said.

First of all, I truly am sorry for taking this long to finish this latest chapter, but this heat wave that's been going on, has zapped all of my energy. On top of that, I've been helping my parents at the farm, and when I finish, I'm usually ready to hit the hay. Anywyas, I managed to finish it, and I like how it came out.

Now, I know cosplay is mostly mainstream nowadys, but there are still people that can't admit that they cosplay, because of work-related issues (I was one of those people for a while), and I thought that it would be a good starting point to explore why Miss Bustier never revealed she was a cosplayer to anyone. And if you paid attention, you will have seen that I staged this whole thing, starting on my "Miraculous Team: Valentine Lovers" fic (Plagg was a really sneaky kwami, xD).

Next chapter might take a little while to be posted, since I don't know when this heat wave will allow me to have the energy to write again. Still, I can promise you two things. First, I will try to write as fast as possible... and second, I will be posting a new illustration of my page in DeviantArt, which I think you will love (It was done last year by MegS-ILS, but I only got permission from her now to post it). Check it out, and then be sure to go to her page to see more Miraculous fanart from her, as well as her DnD art, which is fantastic, okay?). As always, feel free to comment, fav and leave your suggestions to improve this and future fics, my friends.

P.S. I've been watching the new episodes, and without spoiling anything for those of you who still haven't watched them yet, I can't say I don't dislike what's been happening in the series, but I can't say I love it either. We continue to see plotholes the size of swimming pools, and as much as I like to have new heroes to help out, I can't help but to feel like they're just doing that to stretch out the story (the only thing I've been liking as just how Alya has become a true ally for Marinette, something that should've happened back in season 2, not now). Just wanted to say this, you guys are free to disagree with me, if you want to.