Ladybug sat on a rung of the Eiffel Tower, lightly swinging her feet as she watched the smoky sunset before her. A light breeze blew her hair back followed by the light tap of Chat Noir landing next to her.

"A little late aren't we kitty?" Ladybug teased as he took a seat next to her.

"Deepest apologies My Lady," Chat Noir said laughing, "but in all seriousness, it's getting harder to find space to transform without being seen. I don't wanna let the cat out of the bag you know."

"You dork." She smiled softly, closing her eyes to take in the sun.

Chat Noir looked at her softly before turning his own eyes to the slowly dwindling sunlight. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

Ladybug sighed tiredly, the swinging of her legs slowed to a stop. "You remember back whenever we first got our Miraculous? That first year at least half of the people akumatized were all antagonized by one person."

"Why are we talking about something that happened so long ago?" Chat Noir asked with the uncomfortable feeling that he knew where this was going.

"The person who instigated those events is back. You might remember Chloe Bourgeois."

"Oh, yah," he said, feigning an indifferent proximity to the subject, "she was the rich girl, right? Mayor Bourgeois's daughter?"

"That's the one." A wrinkle had appeared between her eyebrows. "I might just be oversensitive, but I think we should keep an eye on her. She might come for the bee miraculous. She might join up with Hawkmoth again."

"That was years ago Bugaboo, I don't think we need to keep that close of an eye on her."

"Hawkmoth is planning something Chat Noir, we have to keep an eye on everything! Especially those who chose to use their powers for evil."

"Is something wrong Ladybug?" Chat asked, laying a hand on her shoulder, "you seem a bit tense lately."

"I don't know Chat, I just feel like everything's happening at once. I'm sure you feel it too. It's becoming harder and harder to separate my personal life from my hero responsibility's. And now Chloe's back to top it all."

Chat Noir sat back, stretching his arms out behind his head. "I know what you mean bugaboo. It feels like every part of my life is becoming more and more invasive." He slouched down a bit, letting his hands rest in his lap. He opened his mouth like he was about to say more but shut it again. This wasn't the time for thoughts like that.

"I'm sorry for complaining kitty, thanks for listening."

"Always bugaboo."

Ladybug laughed, lightly punching him on the arm. "What's with you today Chat? I've not been call bugaboo so many times in a long while."

Chat looked away, pressing his lips together.

"Hey, Chat? What's wrong?"

"She broke up with me yesterday." He whispered, barely audible in the evening wind.

"Oh kitty!" This time it was Ladybug's turn to put her hand on Chat's shoulder. "I'm so sorry Chat, I didn't know. You guys have been together for almost five years now!"

Chat Noir sighed and turned back to his Lady with a resigned smile. "I should have seen it coming," he admitted, "I'm not cut out for long distance relationships and we had been stiff for awhile. But-"

"But it still hurts." Ladybug finished for him.

The sun disappeared completely behind the horizon, leaving only a dull final glow behind at the edge of the sky.

"Ya," he said voice cracking, "It does." He stood up, the nights first stars silhouetting his head. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow for patrol."

Ladybug stood as well, "I'll see you then Chat Noir, and hey," she took his hand and squeezed it, "It'll get better."

He offered a small smile, "I know."


Chloe had opted to walk home for once in her life. Being back in halls where she could recognize malicious faces had drained her, she hoped being around strangers who had no positive or negative opinion of her would help her recharge. It was getting late, the street lamps already obscured the stars. Still the city was alive.

She remembered when she went to visit her mom in New York the city had been much the same, popular streets lit and busy even passed midnight. It was only seven now.

She walked past groups of people chatting and gazed up at the Eiffel Tower, now ablaze with lights. At one time it had been scorned by Parisian's, now they flaunted it as if it were unique in all the world.

As she walked she heard a familiar voice through the crowd.

"I'm so sorry Alya! I completely forgot, I'll be there in ten."

Chloe stopped and turned, not ten feet away from her stood her old nemesis. Marinette. The other girl did not see her, absorbed in her phone call. Chloe took a couple steps closer and then Marinette moved, revealing two long pigtails flowing in her wake.

Chloe froze, realization dawning across her face. No. No. No. It was impossible. It didn't make sense. Other people would have noticed. Wouldn't they? But then, Chloe had been away for years. She had seen Ladybug grow naturally as time passed on the news, but she had never sought out pictures of her classmates. For Marinette to have grown her hair out the exact same length as Ladybug, for her body to have developed in the exact same way. Perhaps it was such a natural change that their classmates didn't notice. Most of all, it would explain why Ladybug treated her with such distrust. She had no proof, but it made too much sense.

Marinette is Ladybug.