A/N: Sometimes I get on a writing spree and I write like 15 chapters before I look up and go, "oh, wow, it's been an hour, ok then." Other times I have to slog through, and barely get 15 words in an hour.

This was somewhere in between.

Let me know what you think! Inspiration for ch6 helpful.

(ToxicUser109, NO. That is just so wrong. It is only meant to indicate a pairing, usually romantic but in this case platonic. Sorry.)

realizations

(((((((((sabrina)))))))))

When Papa drops me off at Chloe's so we can ride to school together, the first words out of her mouth are, "I can't believe Ladybug's being replaced! Who does that orange freak think she is?"

I shrug uncomfortably, very aware of Tikki snoozing in my bag.

"And Chat Noir's cousin? Please. They look nothing alike." Chloe's still ranting as she yanks me into the limousine after her.

"I-I know, right?" I stammer, trying to act like Ordinary Sabrina, Sycophant Sabrina, Sabrina Who Is Definitely Not A Secret Superhero. "Ladybug should have chosen you."

To my surprise, Chloe shakes her head. "No. I'm Queen Bee. I wouldn't want to be Ladybug anyway. But couldn't she have picked someone with better fashion sense?"

I have better sense than to defend Coccinelle. Ladybug warned me against exactly that. "Her braids looked silly," I say instead, though what I want to say is, "Coccinelle doesn't look silly. She looks strong, like Ladybug. She handled that akuma as well as Ladybug did."

"And that cape, how ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."

Chloe and I spend the rest of the ride ridiculing Coccinelle. But as we arrive, I feel Tikki moving in my bag and excuse myself to the bathroom.

Before I can open my bag, Tikki flies out. "Why do you let Chloe pick on you like that, Sabrina?"

I smile at her. "It's OK. I'm used to it."

"But it's not right!"

I cup my hands around Tikki. "Look, Tikki, before I got your earrings I was Chloe's toady. I agreed with everything she said. If I stop now, it'll look suspicious. I have to pretend nothing's changed."

Tikki sighs. "You'll have to stand up to her at some point, you know. You can't live your whole life in Chloe's shadow."

I giggle a little. "You sound like Marinette."

Tikki looks at me from under her eyelids.

"I get the irony."

The door opens.

I slip Tikki back into my bag and open the stall door, remembering to flush the toilet.

Marinette slowly lowers one eyelid in a wink before saying, "Hi Sabrina. Did you see Coccinelle yesterday?"

I shake my head, turning on the sink. "No, but I saw the footage on the Ladyblog. She and Chat Noir are cousins, did you hear?"

"Yes. That was quick thinking on her part- she and Chat look nothing alike. But did you see her costume?" Marinette half swoons. "That cape...and her braids were so pretty!"

I touch my shoulder-length bob.

Marinette waves and heads into a stall, but not before murmuring, "She particularly likes the strawberry ones."

I nod in acknowledgment, dry my hands, and head out.

The class is clustered around Lila when I find them, listening intently to something she's saying.

"...and I'm technically not supposed to tell anyone, but you all are my best friends! So I thought Ladybug wouldn't mind if I told you."

"Oh! Sabrina!" Max- oh, Max- waves me over. "Lila was just telling us about how she fought the akuma yesterday!"

How she ...but she wasn't there.

"I'm not really Chat Noir's cousin, of course," Lila says. She turns to Alya. "Sorry for lying to you. He and I are together, but we decided it would be best for Paris if everyone thought their protectors were together. That's why I lied."

"No sweat, girl," Alya says.

What's going on? I look from one girl to the other, thoroughly confused.

"Of course, when Ladybug asked me to protect Paris with my boyfriend while she's gone, how could I say no?"

"I want an exclusive interview with Coccinelle tomorrow," Alya insists, jabbing a finger playfully into Lila's chest. "Don't forget."

And that's when the pieces fall into place.

Oh, Marinette. I'm so sorry I didn't believe you about Lila.

She's lying.

And since I now know Ladybug's identity, I know she was lying about being her best friend.

Probably everything.

Merde.

A/N: I have this headcanon that being a permanent wielder helps people see through lies, or something. That would explain why only Adrien and Marinette know Lila's lying. (And yes, Sabrina's a temporary holder in this, but she doesn't have to give back the Miraculous after every battle so it counts.)

Everyone who's read this: thank you! Fun fact: this story has more views/reviews/follows than all my other stories together (except for one)! I wrote something people really like! *happy dance*