English is not my native language

They were taking in the last rays of sunshine, content, relaxed and their feet dangling roughly 400 feet above the ground. Ladybug and Chat Noir had finished this days patrol route and were now enjoying the sunset, somewhere between the second and the third platform of the Eiffel Tower. Sitting on one of the braces in between meant that they couldn't be disturbed by late night tourists or custodians. Ladybug was the first to break the comfortable silence between them.

»Chat, can I ask you a question?«

»You just did«, he said jokingly, but added, »sure, go ahead«, before she could roll her eyes at him. On the contrary, she seemed a little nervous and not at all bugged – huh, now he was even punning in his thoughts. Thoughts that were interrupted when she spoke again.

»Is there someone in your civilian live you trust without a doubt?«

Taken aback by her solemn and completely unexpected question he took a moment to think. »There is one person. My best friend, so to say…«

»Would you trust him with you live?«

»Yes. Absolutely.«

»Would you trust him with your… identity?«

A chill ran up his spine, and he couldn't not stare at his partner. »Where are you getting with this?«, he asked cautiously.

Ladybug sat there, her shoulder slightly slumped, and when she glanced back at him, Chat Noir thought he saw something in her eyes like… guilt?

»It's just…«, she took a deep breath, and then said with a clear but quiet voice: »Chat Noir, as the guradian of the Miraculous I hereby allow you to… install a fail safe. You should share your secret with one and only one trusted person, in case something happens to you.«

The wind rustled through his hair, loose blond strands restricting his field of view. »I- I'm sorry, what?«

»Recently I came to the conclusion, that with Hawk- Shadowmoth becoming stronger, becoming more dangerous… we need help. I know we are partners, but I had to make some decisions as the guardian, and one of them entailed that Rena Rouge now is a permanent holder.«

Chat Noir knew that Ladybug did not have to defend herself and her decisions in front of him, but he heard her out. Even if it hurt to hear that she already shared her secret with a trusted friend. His heart then soared again for his Lady, when she told him he didn't have to reveal himself to anyone, that she only wished for him to have the opportunity, the permission, because she herself felt so relieved when there was finally someone with whom she could talk.

He bid her goodbye with a kiss on the back of her hand, smiling, reassuring her that he wasn't mad – he never could be for long anyways. Her sad but genuine smile was more than he could have asked for, because it stayed with him on his way home, accompanied him when he thought - really thought this time, not hypothetically like before – if he wanted to reveal his secret to his most trusted friend. And he found himself to agree with that idea when he vaulted himself through the open window of his room.

»Claws in«, he whispered, and held his hand out to give Plagg a place to land if needed.

»I'm starving«, the black kwami exclaimed, and floated towards his ever so beloved Camembert-cabinet.

»Hey, before you glutton yourself on cheese – what do you think about Ladybugs… idea?«

»She's the Master, she makes the rules«, Plagg said with a shrug. »If you ask me, it's time to reveal yourselves to each other, but it would be pretty good for you to have someone to talk to in the first place, right? Other than me that is. So who is it you're having in mind?«

Adrien smiled softly. »Come on, Plagg. You know who deserves the title of being my best friend. The most loyal, honest person you could ever think of.«