I lay on my side, staring into the mirror. "So, scorn me," I say, as Cat Blanc scowls down at me. I finally figured out the identity of the one I love, and I had to erase everything.
Oh, if only could remember. "You didn't have to do it," Cat Blanc says. Maybe I really am going crazy, listening to my sub conscience mind. A poof, and I'm on my own.
I sit up, wiping my eyes. I was so happy and so was….Why can't I remember? Leaving my cozy apartment is hard, but I need to stretch my legs.
I saw him, everywhere. Flashes of who really is my partner. I start to walk into a passage, and let me feet guide my way.
Maybe I was told to do it? And I knew it wouldn't have worked out, but I did it anyway? I walk further and further into the passageway. It gets blacker and blacker, like my mind trying to work things out.
I sigh, and slump down. All I hear is the drip, drip of water. Brring! My bug-phone startles me. Wiping my eyes, I answer the phone.
"Bugaboo?" His voice is a comfort, a life raft in my emotion storm. "Yes?" Does my voice quiver? "I need to talk to you," he says.
"Okay." "We're are you?" "Sewer, left passageway." I hang up the phone. I curled my knees up to my chin.
Soon, I see Cat padding down the passageway. And my mind clicks. He's Adrien Agreste. And we can't be together. And we we're so happy, figuring out the identities of one another.
Why is my memories restored as soon as I see him? This is real, because I so badly want to be true. "Your too quiet," he says.
I nod, and he sits down next to me. And then I'm in his lap, hugging him like a lifeline. If one of us should be happy, it should be Adrien.
"Good night, M'lady," was when it all went south. I could have fixed it, but I ran away from the problem.
"What did you want to talk about?" I say. "I think I'm being controlled." I was leaning my head on his chest, but with this news I sit up. "Whenever Father twists the ring, I feel control. Unable to get away," he says.
Another thing on my save-the-world- to do-list. "So, we need to get that ring?" I ask. Cat hugs me. "Its a bit more complicated then that. He never takes it off."
I pick up a rock and hurl it at the wall. Shards rain down, imitating the pieces of my shattered heart. "Cat, I just want you to be happy! Oh, Adrien, I messed up!"
Cat rocks me back and forth. "Calm down, Little Bug," he says. Then he stares at me. "Adrien? I thought we didn't know each other's identities?"
"Would you believe me if I say it happened in another time-line, and we both lost our memories but mine came back to me." Cat sits there, his mouth hanging open. I sigh. "Forget it," I mutter.
"What happened? Is that a good thing?" "Well, yeah. But then Hawkmoth found out, and then I really messed up, so I had to erase everyone's memory." "Then how do you remember?" "The memories just came back."
"And you wanted it to be real," he holds me close. "I just want you to be happy," I say. "Just because we don't know now, doesn't mean forever, Bugaboo."
Okay, he's got a point there. "And since when do the Bug and Cat team ever quit?" "Hey, you got it right!" "Pound it?" I ask, softly. We both pound it, and smile at each other.
"Let's go back to the apartment were I can make you some tea," he says. He's right, it is a little drafty in the tunnel.
My legs are a bit shaky, and I loop my arm through Cat's. I crawl into bed when we get back and watch him make the tea.
Why didn't I see it before? A mix of Adrien and Cat Noir, a perfect blend. Cat obviously doesn't remember, but he still loves me. He's still my best friend.
"Here," he says, handing my tea. Sassafras, one of my favorites. "Thanks for helping me," I say. I take a sip of tea. "Even without knowing who you are under the mask, I still love you."
"We'll need to be more careful around Shadow Moth," I say. I take a deep breath. "I don't think we can be together until we defeat him."
Cat nods, a bit pale, but at least he understands. "I can be paient," he says. At least I know who he is. My little secret. This is Adrien, and I want to spend time to get to know him. As superheroes.
We'll have to do it in secret, of course. "Cat, are you happy?" I ask. "I was scared for awhile you didn't love me," he says.
I feel really bad about that. "You know I'm doing it to protect you," I say. "I know now. Besides, there's this girl-"
I feel like we're back on the balcony, were I tell Cat I like a boy. Little did I know, that boy stood and is right in front of me.
"What's her name?" "Marinette."
He likes the other side of me? The one who is more shy? I don't know what to say. But Hawkmoth's memory was erased so he doesn't know Ladybug is also Marinette. And if Cat wants to hang out with me…
Suddenly, I feel a lot better. "Want to snuggle?" I say. He nods, and holds me once more. "I'll find the answers to everything, I promise." I touch his cheek.
"Just don't wear yourself out," he cautions me. I nod. I'm a fighter, not a quitter. Just like a sewing project for a client I don't give up.
Adrien Agreste is Cat Noir. And that's something to defeat Shadow Moth for. My memory restored, it starts to plan. Hold on a bit longer, Adrien.
Pretty soon we will step out of the shadows, to an identity reveal we both remember.