You read the title right, guys. We're doing it, here and now. This is probably going to be one of the shortest ones I'm going to post for a while, but consider it a short, sweet (originally posted on but now it doesn't matter) Valentine's Day gift to y'all.

Chapter Five

Reveal

Marinette paced her room, checking the time yet again. Eleven thirty. Part of her was still thinking not to go through with it.

What if someone saw you? a little negative voice, one that sounded suspiciously like Lila, asked.

No one will, a positive voice replied. The location is secured and nobody would think to look towards the top of the Eiffel Tower at midnight. Marinette sighed. She knew she couldn't let Cat Noir down, but still… something felt off.

"Marinette, it was bound to happen sooner or later," Tikki reassured. "You talked to all of us, and we think you should know who Cat Noir is, if only to help build your bonds." Marinette continued pacing, doomsday scenarios still playing in her head. What if Shadow Moth decides to go for an evening stroll and spots us? What if a sentimonster is doing reconnaissance? What if Alya had gotten a camera drone and is spying on people to figure out any scoops?

Admittedly, that last fear made no sense.

"I'm still not sure, Tikki," Marinette replied. "What if he's let down because he expected someone else? I mean, someone who's always confident and always sure, not a clumsy mess." Tikki looked at her wielder. If only she knew. "You are confident and sure, Marinette. Even if you stumble a little, you always bounce back. I'm sure Cat Noir would love to know who you really are."

On the other side of Paris, Plagg shoved another piece of Camembert into his mouth, chewing it this time, hoping the sound would drown out his chosen's lovestruck sighs. It didn't work. Not only was the cheese not the best choice for muffling sound, Plagg was two feet away from Adrien.

"What if Ladybug doesn't like me?" Adrien asked suddenly. "I mean, I have an idea that she likes me, but just as a friend. What if it could never blossom?"

Plagg rolled his eyes. Poor kid wouldn't know love if it bit him in the butt. "Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that," he replied.

Adrien looked at his kwami. "How can you be so sure? She already said she loved another boy." Plagg burped. I painted myself into a corner this time, he thought. "Uh, why don't you check the time?" he replied in a high-pitched voice. Adrien glanced at his computer monitor. Eleven forty-five.

"We'll leave soon, but first I need to ask you something," Adrien said to Plagg. The kwami swallowed. "What?" he asked. Adrien leaned close to him. "Two things about Ladybug. Any two things. Just so I know what to expect."

Plagg sighed with relief, then smirked. "She's a girl, and she's Ladybug." Adrien glared at him, eliciting a chuckle from the cat kwami. "You said 'any two things'. I said two things. You're the one who confused me for a genie."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I guess I did walk into that one." He checked the time again. Eleven fifty.

"Should I bring any gifts? Like flowers, or chocolates?" Adrien asked. Plagg shook his head. "Nah, that's not a good idea. You're just revealing your identities to each other, not going out on a Valentine's Day date. Maybe next time you reveal yourselves to each other." Adrien laughed a little. "Thanks, Plagg."

The two met at the top of the Eiffel Tower, both a few minutes early. "Couldn't wait, huh?" Cat Noir asked. Ladybug nodded. "If only to make sure this area is secured," she replied. She sighed. "Cat, maybe this isn't a good idea. I mean, what effect could this have on our partnership? What if we hate the other person behind the mask? What if-?"

"M'lady, I could never hate you," Cat Noir said reassuringly. "If it turns out we never really hit it off without the mask, well, that means a new beginning for us as friends and partners." Ladybug smiled. "You're right, kitty. I guess I do tend to overthink it a little." The smile that grew across Cat Noir's face warmed her heart. "I love it either way."

"On the count of three?" Ladybug asked. Cat Noir nodded, and the two closed their eyes and counted down.

"Spots Off."

"Claws In."

They slowly opened their eyes, and the person opposite met their vision. "Adrien!?" Marinette yelped.

"Marinette!?" Adrien asked in surprise. The two stood in silence for a moment, then laughed shakily at the same time. Tikki and Plagg floated next to each other. "I think you owe me some cheese, Sugarcube," Plagg said teasingly. Tikki rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry," they said simultaneously. "No, wait, why? What did you do wrong?" They laughed again. "I'll go first," Marinette said.

"I'm sorry for… rejecting you so many times," Marinette began. "I feel kinda dumb now. I mean, I was rejecting you for, well, you! I mean, in a love square with each other, that's kinda inplane- uh, I mean arcane- I mean insane!" She sighed. "I can understand if you don't like me as much anymore. I mean, confident Ladybug is really insecure and klutzy Marinette, who's just a good friend!"

"That's what I need to apologize for," Adrien said. "I'm sorry I said that so many times. Especially behind your back. And, well, I probably should have realized you had a crush on me." He looked right into Marinette's eyes. "And as for the insecurity and klutziness, everyone slips every now and again. I remember back when we first defeated Stoneheart. Right after you purified the akuma swarm, I said that whoever the girl under the mask was, I loved her. And, well, you're Marinette, our everyday Ladybug. I couldn't think of a better real Ladybug, or a better Guardian."

"You think that… we could make it work?" Marinette asked. Adrien nodded. "I can definitely tell you love me for who I am, and I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, I love you for who you are."

"Can you two cut to the chase already!?" Plagg yelled. "Less talky, more action-y! I didn't come for a midnight reveal to listen to lovebird talk!" Marinette and Adrien glanced at Plagg.

"Is he always like this?" Marinette asked. Adrien shrugged. "Not usually. Maybe he really wants to see us together."

"I am the kwami of destruction and bad luck, destroyer of dinosaurs!" Plagg shrieked. "I am not a romance seeker, except for my beloved Camembert!" Tikki giggled. "Really? You could've fooled me every time our owners got together." Marinette and Adrien laughed when Plagg seemed to pale, then blush. They met each other's gaze, then quickly turned away.

"So, uh," Marinette began. "We finally know who the other is. What do we do now?" Adrien shrugged. "I'm not sure. I mean, of course we can't tell anyone else yet." Marinette nodded. "Alya's head would explode from the revelation, and I don't think Nino would be too happy if her head exploded."

"And I doubt Chloé would take it well," Adrien replied, then his face blanched as he realized. "That's why you and Lila hate each other. She was lying about being friends with Ladybug." Marinette nodded. "That was why. I don't like liars, especially when they lie about me or the people I love. Or threaten me or them."

"Threaten… Add that to the list of things I'm sorry about," Adrien said shakily. "Taking the high road wouldn't have helped that time."

Marinette shook her head. "No, no, you were right. We both know what she did as Volpina and Chameleon. It would be terrible for everyone if she was exposed like that. Hawk Moth would have an ultimate supervillain, with all her targets right in front of her."

"So, back to the question at hand, what should we do?" Adrien asked. Marinette thought for a moment. "Well, we could… no, that's crazy." Adrien raised an eyebrow. "What's crazy, m'lady?" he asked. Marinette blushed a little. "We've both had crushes on each other without realizing it, and-" she was cut off by Adrien giving her a peck on the cheek.

"I understand perfectly," he said with a smile. Marinette returned the smile, and the two met in the middle, lips locking. Tikki squealed with delight, Plagg rolled his eyes, but still watched with some amusement.

At last the two broke apart. "I guess that makes this official," Marinette said, blushing madly. Adrien smiled. "It does. And there's no one I'd rather call m'lady." They kissed again, the emotions spilling into each other and creating a beautiful canvas of romance.

"I believe you owe me some cookies," Tikki remarked. Plagg harrumphed. He regretted making both bets. Of course I would lose the second one, he thought. Why did I bet that they would be awkward AND they wouldn't realize their feelings for each other!? Now I have to find cookies for Tikki.

A few moments later, the two superheroes left the Eiffel Tower and went back to their respective homes. Marinette flopped into bed, a dumbstruck smile on her face. "Adrien was Cat Noir this entire time," she said softly. "And we're finally…" Tikki cleared her throat. "So, what exactly are we going to do? We both know if people found out Ladybug and Cat Noir are in love…"

Marinette sat up. "We're on the same page. For now, as heroes, we're strictly partners. But with Adrien…" a mischievous little smile grew across her face. "We're gonna tease everyone before revealing it to be official."

Halfway across Paris, Plagg nodded slowly as Adrien finished telling him the plan. "So you're going to lie to everyone?" Plagg asked. "Doesn't sound too nice." Adrien shook his head. "No, Plagg, we're just going to tease them, make them wonder if or not. It was Marinette's idea, and she thinks it'll work out well."

"So Pigtails has that streak?" Plagg asked. "Promise me things won't get too crazy." Adrien laughed. "Well, I did say that a few of them kind of deserved it, and I think it might be fun to see everyone's reaction."

Little did either of them know, the Butterfly Miraculous beeped once. Gabriel noticed, but brushed it off. He could easily sense positive emotions as well as negative ones, and while the love that had blossomed was certainly powerful, he wasn't going to bother with any of that nonsense. Might as well leave a couple as it was.

This wasn't the first time his Miraculous reacted to love. Mr. Pigeon's devotion to the birds had mingled with his despair and Hawk Moth had sensed that. Other times, love just popped up randomly and startled him while he was working.

Bizarrely, every time Nathalie was nearby, the Butterfly Miraculous would react. Gabriel wasn't sure why. He had grilled Nooroo for information, but he had been just as puzzled. Gabriel sighed and turned to the painting of Emilie behind him. The portrait had been made about three or four weeks after her disappearance, and even though it had been a small fortune to have made, Gabriel never regretted it.

"I wonder whoever felt that love this evening has ever known this kind of pain," Gabriel said solemnly. "But soon, that pain will be gone, and I will have my family back together again." He turned back to his work, a seasonal piece for February. A Valentine's line. Gabriel smirked. Perhaps Dark Cupid would return sometime soon.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: the two dorks are made for each other. Yeah, a cute little reveal chapter, done how I think it should be done (and seriously, just my opinion, Cat Blanc was way too unrealistic for the situation they found themselves in. I know it's hotly debated, but that's just my two cents).

Fun fact for this one: I decided to do a double post, mostly because sweet Jesus I wanted to get onto the next story. New characters, new powers, and maybe a little something else along the way. As always, stay safe, healthy, and keep warm (when I originally posted this, my area got hit with an ice storm. The trees looked pretty and all, but it was freezing! And probably around now the temperature's beginning to drop too).

And for my British (and other international) friends, may Her Majesty the Queen rest in peace.