Chapter Four

Author's note: Be amazed – a second chapter in a two-month period. Consider it a Mardi Gras gift. As a note, because it crossed my mind that I don't think I've said it yet for this story: You Needed Me is not going to be 100% up-to-date with the series. I started writing it before I even watched season 2, so imagine that it has been two-ish years since season 1 ended, and the characters are aged up to 18 years old, seniors in high school (and yes, I realize that doesn't exactly fit with the canon ages of the characters, just go with it please).

When they were once again seated in Marinette's bedroom, now with plates stacked high with pancakes, Alya stared firmly at her best friend, during her to try to escape this explanation. Marinette sighed a took a big bite. Alya gave her a second to prepare herself. "So," Marinette started. "Now you know."

"All I know is the big thing; I don't know any details," Alya interrupted. "You one me details, girl."

She sighed again and nodded. "Yeah, I do. I'm just not sure where to start. I've never had to tell anyone the Whole story before."

"Well," Alya said between bites. "I know some. You got your powers-and, I guess, Your Miraculous – two years ago, when Ivan became the first akumatized victim. Or was it before? Did you train?"

Marinette laughed. "Train? No. we had no training. I came home that day and found this weird jewelry box in my room. When I opened it, there was the Miraculous. And Tikki, of course."

"Right, and, um…" Alya looked skeptically at the Kwami resting on a pillow at the foot of Marinette's bed. "What, or, who is Tikki? I've never seen it – her? – around you, or around Ladybug."

"You wouldn't," Tikki answered. "I am the spirit of the Miraculous, a Kwami. It is my power that Ladybug uses, and, when she does, I am pulled inside the jewels. When the Miraculous is inactive, I remain hidden so as not to reveal my holder's identity."

"Fascinating," Alya muttered, eyes flashing with the light of a reporter finding a compelling story. "Do all of the Miraculous have a…a Kwami? Is there a hierarchy – is there a master Kwami that rules you all?"

Tikki giggled. "Yes, all of the Miraculous have Kwami. And, no, there really isn't a hierarchy. We are mostly ruled by our holders, or our fates are decided by the guardian."

"Guardian?" Alya looked to Marinette. "As in a boss? You're a…holder. Which means the guardian is like your controller? Is that right?"

Marinette shrugged. "I've never thought of him like that, but I guess? He gave me the Miraculous, and he gives me advice sometimes."

"You've met him? So you know who he is?" Alya latched onto that information instantly. "Is it Chat Noir? Is he secretly the leader of this whole operation?"

Marinette snorted. "Hardly. No, he and I received our Miraculous the same day. I think. Pretty sure. But yes, I know who the guardian is, but that information would mean nothing to you or anyone else."

"And do you know who Chat Noir is?"

The room went completely silent as Marinette froze. Her face slowly began changing colors, from pale to pink to red. Finally she sucked in a breath, realizing she had been holding it, and almost choked on her tongue.

"You do know!" Alya said excitedly. "Of course you do; after all, you spent the night with him."

Marinette had been trying to clear her throat with water when Alya's words registered, and she choked, water flying everywhere as she coughed and tried to catch her breath. "It's not like that!" she gasped.

"Really? What am I supposed to think?" Alya set her pancakes on the desk and crossed her arms. "You disappear, I assume to deal with the akuma that was on the news, and then you don't come back until after dawn the next day? Looking shell-shocked and…" her brow knit together. "Scared? Hold on, you looked scared when you came in."

"Because you scared me," Marinette defended. Alya gave her a Look. "I wasn't scared; I was…startled." Another Look hit her. "Okay, yes, I…I was scared. I am. And I'm not sure what to do."

Alya rose from the desk chair and moved to sit beside Marinette on the bed, putting an arm around her shoulder. "You know, Mari, that most people have this person they can tell things to, especially when they're scared or need advice. They're called a best friend. And, as we established earlier, I am yours."

Marinette rolled her eyes, but she leaned into Alya's side. She hesitated for a moment, but she figured that Alya already knew the big one, another secret wouldn't hurt. Even though it maybe wasn't her secret to tell. She groaned. "Okay, but you have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone anything. Period. Ever. I just…if anyone finds out from you or from me…I can't betray him like that."

Alya blinked in surprise. "Girl, of course. I swear. My lips are sealed."

She took a deep breath and continued in a whisper. "I know who Chat Noir is." The words fell like weights. "But…he doesn't know who I am." Alya didn't interrupt, despite the stiffening of her body with the revelations. "Because I'm a coward." Marinette's head fell into her hands as she let the whole story unfold.

"And then I just looked down. I didn't mean to! I even promised him last night I wouldn't. I can't believe I was so stupid! And then I promised Plagg I would tell him within one week. And now…I don't know what to do."

"It's Adrien, isn't it?" Alya asked. Marinette gave her an incredulous look. "Please, if anyone is worse at coming up with excuses or hiding a secret identity, it's Adrien Agreste. Plus, there are very few boys who can pull off a leather cat suit quite that stunningly. And fewer still that you would be freaking out this much over."

Marinette groaned and flopped backwards onto the bed. "When you put it like that I guess it was obvious. But I never saw it. And I thought I knew everything about him. Apparently I missed a few things." When she closed her eyes, she saw the rooftop, the blanket, his hair sticking out from the top. Her fingers brushed her stomach where his hand had rested when she awoke this morning, catching herself and blushing. "What do I do?"

Alya lay on her side next to her and gave her a serious look. "You tell him." She said the words point-blank, with no room for argument.

"How? How do I tell him this? That I betrayed the complete trust he put in me? That the Ladybug he's been pining over for years is really just…me."

"Seriously? Just you? How many times do we have to go through this Madame Class President? You. Are. Incredible. Period. And Adrien knows it, and Chat Noir knows it. They're both crazy about both of you. I can see it, Nino can see it. The entire city of Paris can see it. I can't believe that you don't."

"You don't understand. I've made a fool of myself so many times in front of Adrien, but Chat Noir only knows the graceful, powerful side of me that I am in the mask. On the other hand, I've watched Chat fall over himself around me for years. He is a clutzy, smart, annoying, funny, exasperating, adorable…" Marinette sat bolt upright. "Oh no, Alya!" She gave her friend a panicked look. "Why does Chat Noir look cute to me? When did that happen?"

Alya laughed. "Girl, you two have been flirting around since day one. The sexual tension has been palpable, even through television and computer screens. I mean, have you read some of the Fanfiction people have written about the two of you?" She frowned. "Actually, I hope not." Marinette shook her head. "The point is: Did you not notice?"

"He was always just…and those puns…and yeah he is always there to catch me, or to take the hit, but…I mean he's so cocky. He's nothing like Adrien. Adrien is just so…beautiful, and classy, and such a gentleman." She heard the echo of Milady, in her head and blushed. "He's incredible, smart, strong, and there's just…he's so alone, and so sad."

"Mari, you realize you just said the same things about Chat Noir and Adrien. You said that the reason you even did what you did last night was because you though Chat Noir looked so alone and sad that you couldn't just leave him like that."

"Of course I couldn't; he's my partner. And he's my friend. He probably knows almost as much about my life as you do. Minus a few key details, of course. And, yeah, I care about him." She blinked. "Actually, recently I've been confiding in him a lot. I mean, who else could understand the level of stress I'm under right now, balancing high school, college plans, family responsibilities, working part-time in the bakery, and throwing in crime-fighting on top of it – he was going through most of the same things." She remembered some of the things Chat Noir had confided in her, and her eyes flashed suddenly in anger. "Oh, I can't believe I ever looked up to Gabriel Agreste," she muttered as she stood and began to pace. "Such an arrogant, egotistical, cruel…the way Chat Noir acts when he brings up his father, I thought he was being beaten. And now I know…" She stopped, straightening. "But Adrien never says a word. He's always so strong, and he's always smiling, except when he thinks no one is looking. But I've seen him flinch." And like that, the anger was back.

Alya sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Marinette work through her thoughts. Finally, she reached her conclusion and faced Alya once more. "Adrien and Chat Noir are the same person." She said it with somber understanding. Alya nodded supportively, as Tikki still sat, watching with confusion and concern. "And I have to tell him the truth, no matter if it changes how he looks at me."

"'Atta girl." Alya moved to stand, but Marinette began pacing again, and she sighed and sat back down.

"But what if it does? I can't risk messing with our partnership without actually endangering people. Or what if I screw my friendship with Adrien? And what if he finds out about my crush on him. Oh, I'll never live that down." Marinette was spiraling down a rabbit hole of panic.

Alya clapped her hand down on her shoulder. "Breathe, Mari. Take a deep breath, and listen to me." Marinette stopped and obeyed her request. "Adrien and Chat Noir are both going to understand. It may make things a little awkward at first, but he'll get used to it once he's had a chance to do exactly what you're doing now. But you need to give him that chance." Marinette hesitated, then nodded, acquiescing. "However. Today is Sunday. You won't be able to see him until at least tomorrow morning, at school. Until then, you need to breathe, and study, because if you fail your finals, you're going to have bigger issues to deal with then secret identities and akumas."

Finally, Marinette cracked a smile. "You're right." She moved back to her books, setting the forgotten empty plates by the trap door. "Let's do this."

"Just don't think this gets you out of telling me all the stuff you forgot to include in your little confession. I still have questions." Alya grinned her way as they pulled out their chemistry text books.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Marinette sighed, digging in.