Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Miraculous: Borderline

Chapter 8: Keeping Secrets

At home, Adrien pulled off his fencing gear and winced as his arm guard chafed against the wound he'd gotten in the fight against Wrath.

Adrien winced as he looked at the sweltering burn.

Man, this looks bad.

"You know, you need to get that checked out soon before you die of infection or something," Plagg commented as he chowed down on some Camembert cheese.

Adrien sighed irritably. "Oh, lay off, Plagg."

Adrien was still mad at Plagg for withholding information.

Why had Marinette grabbed his ring? What had she used it for? And where had she gone?

That last part, he could easily find out by himself though. He knew where Marinette lived. It was an easy block away from his house. But Adrien couldn't believe that Plagg wouldn't tell him anything else. He'd thought that they were close! Plagg had admitted that Adrien was the best Cat Noir he'd ever gotten! So why was he holding back?

Adrien threw the last of his fencing gear at the floor and started to collapse on the couch to get some much-needed rest when he heard a noise outside his door.

"Nathalie?" Adrien called.

No one answered.

Huh. That's strange.

Adrien looked around for Plagg but he'd disappeared. Adrien had often assumed that it was just because Plagg wasn't very keen on hanging out with him all the time and needed his alone time, but now Adrien wasn't so sure.

What was it that Plagg did by himself?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices passing by his door.

Was that…

Adrien hurried over to his bedroom door and it slid open.

"Father?" Adrien called hesitantly as he stepped out into the hallway.

He looked both directions and frowned, stepping into the living room and glancing around the dining table and guest chairs.

But no one was there.

"Do you think anyone suspects I'm ladybug?" Marinette asked as she worked on her homework in her room on a tablet. "I mean, it was such a big fiasco and you were there and I was there…"

Tikki munched on a cookie and shook her head. "I don't know, Marinette. Hawk Moth akumatized you and saw me with you...but that's why I made sure to say that Ladybug 'taught' you, so that he wouldn't suspect!"

Marinette stopped writing and gave Tikki an exasperated look. "But Tikki, Hawk Moth is sharp enough. He's going to suspect."

Tikki giggled. "Suspect all he wants! Your secret's still safe!"

Tikki suddenly froze mid-chew. "Well, actually…" She trailed off.

Marinette frowned and put her pen down. "What is it, Tikki?"

When Tikki didn't answer, Marinette started getting really annoyed. "Tikki...come on, tell me!"

Tikki shrugged helplessly. "You left me alone in the lockers in your purse and Adrien took it! He saw me flying after you, and he knows that purse belonged to you! So…"

Marinette's eyes were wide. "So he knows I'm Ladybug?"

Tikki shook her head. "He probably suspects, but there's nothing bad about that! Sure, it's not really ideal, but he's not a bad guy!"

Tikki leaned back with her cookie and gave Marinette a cheerful grin. "Relax, Marinette! There's nothing to worry about!"

Marinette didn't answer. She was lost in thought, and although she was reluctant to say anything to Tikki, Marinette felt worse knowing that Adrien might know she was Ladybug.

What does he think of me now that he knows that I'm Ladybug but became Wrath anyway? Does he think that I'm weak to not have been able to resist Hawk Moth's akuma? Does he think even less of me now that he knows that I'm a failure?

That I failed both as a person and as a superhero?

Marinette looked away from Tikki's unsuspecting eyes, unable to bring herself to tell Tikki about the plan that had been taking root inside her brain ever since the aftermath of Wrath.

Marinette knew Tikki would never get a chance to change Marinette's mind.

Because Marinette wouldn't tell Tikki until it was already too late.

"Sir, I found this after Ladybug swung by to catch the akuma this morning," Nathalie said to Gabriel. "She dropped it, and I believe it could be a clue."

Gabriel stepped away from the podium and took the charm bracelet that Nathalie held out. He stared at the bracelet for a few seconds and frowned.

"I don't recognize it," Gabriel finally said, his voice rough and weary with exhaustion and frustration.

Gabriel sighed and set down the bracelet. "Honestly, Nathalie, I'm not sure what to think. Marinette was my best chance at defeating Cat Noir and Ladybug, and she failed."

Gabriel looked away into the distance. "For a moment, I thought that she was Ladybug, but she can't be if her earring was destroyed. Which makes me think—"

Gabriel shook his head, and his slate-blue eyes met Nathalie's startling clear ones. "I don't know what to think, Nathalie. This whole ordeal has made me exhausted."

Nathalie spoke assuredly. "Don't worry, sir. You will win soon."

Gabriel let a small smile slip. "Thank you, Nathalie."

Nathalie nodded and left the room, and Gabriel stared after her for a moment.

He was afraid to admit it, but Nathalie lent him strength. After the tragedy with his wife, Gabriel had felt heartbroken and had nearly driven himself insane with grief and his unrelenting search for a cure—even though it was supposedly impossible to find. Nathalie had been by his side the whole time. Gabriel couldn't imagine a world without her. Once Emilie Agreste was back in the flesh, Gabriel's family would be complete once more.

And he would feel whole again.

End of Chapter 8: Keeping Secrets