So… this story started off as a one-shot and I really don't know what happened… This is a continuation of the story arc starting with Tandem Lies. I know I've probably said that like a dozen times but people keep asking so there you go. SO in any case when I first started writing this I hated it and almost scraped the whole thing but after getting a solid 12 hrs of sleep and redoing half of it I discovered that it grew on me. The akuma especially grew on me but you won't meet them till later. Anyways enjoy and as always feel free to ask questions, comment, draw stuff, and so on.

Pinkittwice54… Sabine does realize the Chat is Adrien. She also has the idea that Marinette is Ladybug but she is waiting for a good time to oust her.

Honeybee itz Kata… Here is some more fluff! Read it in a safe place like a tree… or a bunker.

Avatar NIX… Tom sorta suspects something but he trusts Sabines judgement. I actually loosely based this off of a friend of mine who used to sneak in through my window and sleep at my house when her parents were fighting. Somehow my mom always knew she was there by what I like to call (Mom Magic) although she didn't confront me about it. She just let us muddle through and subtlety let me know if I ever needed help that she was there. I really feel that Sabine and Marinettes relationship would be the same.

Wow… over 200 reviews… dang. Thank you everyone who has reviewed and followed and favorited. I'm glad everyone is having a good time reading my stories and I hope you will continue to do so! Now on with the show!

When an akuma transforms people into what they are on the inside Marinette and Adrien realize something very important as to who they are down to their very cores.

I own nothing... Except my imagination.

Secrets Within (Part 1)

It was something Marinette found pretty and Adrien had to admit he liked it too initially. Now it represented frustration and temptation. The object in question… a hair pin.

They had gone to the opening of the Shattered Iron statue as a date. Figuring that since the married couple had been akumafied over the statue they as Ladybug and Chat Noir had a duty to see what all the fuss had been about. The statue had been stunning and interesting to see since it transformed as you walked around it. From the front it was two dragon like creatures circling one another and if you looked at it from the back the statue transformed to be two humans with wings caught in the same circling motion. As you walked around the sides the forms dissolved into bits of shattered metal and glass hence their chosen name Shattered Iron. It was a stunning work of art and they were more than happy to show up at the unveiling of the statue. Overall it ended up being a fairly large venue with other artist setting up booths in the nearby court yard to sell their wares. Of course the super hero duo were welcomed and thanked profusely by all the people there but none so much as the once akumafied victims since Miraculous Cleanse had fixed their statue. Once the unveiling was over with they had perused the stalls and that's when she had found the hair pin. Marinette had wanted to switch up her hairstyle a little and the pin was part of the Shattered Iron wares. It was a long bronze rod that had thin chains that connected to three brightly colored faceted glass balls on the end. The balls swung free and to her delight she also discovered a tiny bronze bell that looked like Chats attached to the balls. It was pretty and cute so when she showed it to him in her palm Chat had given her an excited thumbs up without even realizing the mistake he had made.

To be honest the first time she wore it he had been stunned by how she looked with her hair all bundled up. She had looked older, more beautiful more…something. The bun look as he so dubbed it had left him speechless and he hadn't even noticed the hairpin. This was the second time she had worn it and she hadn't even meant to. Marinette had been late getting into class and in her rush she had forgotten to grab two hairbands. Her hair was getting longer these days and she hadn't wanted it getting in her way especially since they had science lab earlier that day and their teacher didn't appreciate loose hair around fire. There was no time to go back home and for a moment she resigned herself to wearing a ponytail when she remembered the hair pin still in her bag. With a smile she had bundled her hair into a bun placing the pin just right so the dangling balls swung free with every movement of her head.

It was two classes later that Adrien had arrived late from something his father had planned and he had been happily surprised to see her hair up once more. Adrein had loved the look until they broke off into pairs to work on an in class project. With a grin Alya had switched seats with him and he had been in heaven sitting next to the love of his life until she turned away from him to get something out of her bag. Sun light streaming in from the windows hit the shiny little balls catching his attention and so far he had yet to regain it.

Every time she moved her head the little balls moved glinting in the light as they swung back and forth. The dam thing was taunting him he could just feel it and to make it worse they chinked as they swung making a pleasant tinkling sound that Adrien knew only he could hear. He wanted to paw at the stupid little balls make them swing and chime and…

"Adrien are you ok?" Marinette asked a look of concern crossing her features as she turned to face him fully. The shiny baubles vanished behind her head and Adrien stiffened as he realized he had been staring.

"Yeah sorry I was uh distracted." Adrien muttered cursing Plagg and his cat tendencies that came with him.

Marinette blushed and turned once more looking back down at the work sheet. The balls came swishing back into his peripheral vision chinking as they swung free. He glanced at them meaning to look away swiftly once more. Instead his eyes were pinned to them as they danced and it was only after his fingertips tapped one of them that he realized he had lost to his inner Chat once more. The little bell chimed audibly as he swatted at it and Marinette twitched, swiftly looking up causing his hand to brush her cheek as she turned. Adrien yanked his hand away blushing furiously once more and finally turned his attention to the worksheet before him. He kept his eyes pinned on the worksheet for the rest of the period and not on the bright dancing balls that glittered drawing his attention and…

Adrien huffed shaking his head irritably not seeing the concerned glance Marinette gave him. The bell rang and Adrien was off like a shot not even thinking of where he was supposed to be going next. By the time Adrien finally remembered he had math next he was almost late. Thankfully he arrived in time and Marinette handed him his bag which he had forgotten in his previous class. Thanking her with a smile he climbed up the one step and sat behind her in his seat for this class.

It was then that Adrien realized his error, he sat behind Marinette, behind those bright colorful stupid balls that swung with every twitch of her head. Nails dug into desk and Adrien could practically feel his body vibrating with the desire to pounce. Pounce and play and swish the baubles across the floor to pounce again and… A hand descended on his shoulder making him yelp in surprise as he tried and failed to leap to his feet. His feet had been tucked under the chair legs while he was sitting and feet tangling with the chair legs Adrien fell over sideways pulling the chair down as he crashed to the floor with a clatter making the whole room freeze.

"Mr Agreste!" Their teacher cried shocked and Adrien glanced up to see Nino hand hanging in the air a confused shocked expression in place.

"Dude?" Nino whispered and Adrien felt his face flush.

Marinette was at his side in an instant a look on her face that screamed Ladybug protection mode. Before he could say a word she pressed a hand to his forehead then turned to the teacher.

"I think he has a fever. May I take Adrien to the nurses office?" Marinette asked

Their teacher nodded still looking confused while Marinette hauled a stunned Adrien to his feet, grabbed their bags, and pulled him out the door.

"Ok tell me what's going on." Marinette said as they walked down the hall.

Adrien sighed keeping up with her as he tried not to think about the swaying balls in the back of her hair. It was harder than he thought since it had the little bronze bell that chimed with every step she took drawing his attention right back to the accursed thing.

"I… well…" Adrien muttered distractedly his hand rising on its own to swat at the baubles. They chinked and Marinette twisted to look up at him seeing the way his eyes followed the hair stick. Suddenly her eyes went wide and she froze midstep causing Adrien to run into then trip over her. He yelped bounced onto the balls of his feet and fell forward landing on all fours before he could face plant.

"Marinette…" Adrien whined as he twisted around knowing that she knew he hated it when she stopped without warning.

Marinette dropped into a crouch before him and reached back pulling the stick from her hair. Her hair dropped loose around her shoulders framing her pretty face and Adrien felt what little annoyance he had flee his mind altogether. She was stunning with her hair down and he reached forward from his own crouch ready to pull her into his arms when the sunlight struck the hair stick. It shimmered across the balls making rainbows and the bell tinkled pleasantly as they jerked and shifted in the light. He batted at them a smile growing on his face letting a frustrated mewl out as they moved out of his reach. They disappeared behind a back and Adrien pounced wanting the baubles back.

Laughter bubbled up from underneath him and with growing horror Adrien realized he had pounced on Marinette without thinking. She laughed harder at the look on his face and Adrien felt his face light on fire in embarrassment.

"You have been chasing my hair stick all morning!" Marinette exclaimed between giggles. "That's why you have been so distracted! Why didn't you tell me before?"

Adrien now in control once more shifted off her and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he helped her sit up. "I didn't notice them last time you wore it and it was just sudden and random. I just couldn't control it this time."

"That's because you never play." Plaggs voice said as he peered out of Adriens pocket at Marinette.

"Play?" Marinette asked slipping the hair stick into her bag before Adrien could catch sight of it again.

"Yes play. Kittens need to play even if they are not allowed by their parents. Since Mr. Stick in the mud here never lets his playful cat instincts out they are bleeding through to his everyday life." Plagg answered

"Oh." Marinette said quietly "Is that why you practically vibrate whenever I pull yarn out?"

"Yes." Plagg answered as Adrien said "No."

Marinette snickered and pulled the hair stick from her bag watching as Adreins eyes then Plaggs caught sight of it. She waved it slightly and Adriens hand snapped up to swat at it. Plagg zoomed from his pocket to tangle in the chains and Adrien gave a grumpy sounding hiss at the sight. Plagg twisted in the chains to return a hiss and for several seconds the air was filled with unhappy hissing. Marinette busted out laughing lowering the hair stick and Plagg to her lap snapping Adrien back to normal.

Adrien groaned and fell back onto his butt face in his hands. Plagg on the other hand wiggled through the chains to fasten his teeth onto one of the balls causing an unpleasant squeak to emerge from his jaws.

"Plagg don't try and eat it!" Tiki cried as she flew from Marinette purse to swat the cat kwami on the head.

"But its shiny and I want to keep it!" Plagg answered

Tiki sighed and looked up at Marinette who as of yet hadn't stopped laughing.

"You should buy some cat toys together otherwise this will start happening more." Tiki said

"We will right after school." Marinette said between giggles as she nodded her head.

Tiki pulled Plagg off the hair stick and swiftly Marinette hid it in her school bag while Tiki dragged Plagg back into her purse promising pats to make him go with her.

Adrien still sat across from her head in his hands and Marinette crawled forward to wrap him in a hug.

"I am a human being. Not a cat. Why am I having trouble controlling this?! Especially when you don't!" Adrien cried pressing his face into Marinette shoulder.

Marinette rubbed a hand through his soft hair with a sigh. She had an idea why but she wasn't sure if she should tell him. Seeing that he was so upset though, Marinette decided it would probably be for the best if she told him her idea.

"I think its because you never let yourself just have fun." Marinette whispered "I mean don't get me wrong you have fun with me when we go on dates and when you hang out with Nino but for the most part you always have to act so reserved. When you are Chat though… you're free and I think bottling up that side of yourself is what's causing the issue. Plus I do have issues I just channel it differently. I garden and drink flowery tea and I really can't stand the cold anymore."

Adrien pulled back as she trailed off to stare Marinette in the eyes. Then all at once he slow blinked at her making a smile spread across her face. With a giggle Marinette returned the blink and Adrien buried his head into her hair hiding his bright red face as he sighed into her shoulder. They stayed like that for several minutes then Adrien climbed to his feet pulling Marinette up with him.

"Lets go buy some stupid cat toys." He said and Marinette looked up at him surprised.

"You want to skip school?" she asked shocked to say the least.

"It's a half day, lunch is next anyways and I have a photo shoot later so now is the perfect time. Plus we have been out of class long enough that if we go back now it will look weird." Adrien answered

Marinette chuckled "Alright kitty. Lets get you some toys. After all I'd hate to see you get into my yarn box as you are now."

Adrien felt himself blush at her words even as they started to walk forward towards the school entrance. Together they left the school aiming for a pet shop that was nearby. The store was cute and quite small but they had a surprisingly decent selection of cat toys. Adrien had a few issues with the feathered toys and Plagg didn't help one bit since he thought it was funny to shove the feathered ends of some of the toys in Adriens face causing him to sneeze and curse. Tiki finally snatched him away and dragged him back into Marinetts purse letting the two teens shop in peace. After a bit of searching they got a selection of toys that caught Adreins attention including a laser pen that had him twitching the moment she turned it on. Plagg was obsessed with a chunky mouse toy and overall they left the store satisfied.

"Do you want to bring some of the balls home with you to batt around?" Marinette asked as they walked to her house.

Adrien shook his head. "No if they were found then it would cause some questions to come about that I'd rather not answer."

Marinette smiled "I guess you will have to get you fill when you come over then."

It was strangely quiet outside as they made their way to her house and after a moment Marinette realized that there were no people in the park. It was unsettling and glancing up at Adrien she realized he seemed to feel the same way. They paused as one just before they reached the door of the bakery looking around.

"You don't think…" Adrien began just as the door to the bakery blew open.

"There you kids are! Hurry and get inside there is an akuma attack taking place!" Tom snapped grabbing the surprised teens before they could move and dragged them inside.

OOPS! That will teach them about the hazards of skipping school. They got nabbed by the parents!