-6-

Marinette was not a morning person, so an early morning akuma attack was a serious downer. With her phone chiming in alert, she sat bolt upright and practically growled. "Why is Hawkmoth even awake? Is he an insomniac or something?"

It didn't help that Chat Noir was so chirpy either. His wide grin and peachy behaviour made her fingers itch to slap him. Not that she actually would, but damn how could the boy be so positive before the sun had even peeked above the horizon? To say Ladybug was half asleep and grumpy as they defeated the latest akuma would be a correct observation.

Her ire was raised as Chat Noir brought up the one topic she'd hoped to avoid. Her breakfast dates with a certain blonde boy she refused to name to her partner. At her sour look Chat Noir beamed, clearly pleased that her latest date had been another bust. But she couldn't help adding. "We did snuggle under his umbrella while it poured. I tried to express my feelings but was drowned out by the noise of the rain."

A perplexed looked dimmed Chat Noir's smile. "Wait, when was this date?"

"A week ago."

"Which day?"

"Saturday." There was a sudden but noticeable tick under Chat Noir's right eye, even with the mask in place she could see it. "Something wrong?" Ladybug asked.

"Um, no. You said it was a breakfast date, right?"

"Yeah."

"Was he aware it was a date?"

The blood in her veins was on the verge of freezing. How had he figured this out? "Not exactly."

"Was it just you and him?"

"Why so many questions?" she growled as she placed her hands on her hips.

"N-no reason."

Chat Noir was acting weird. Ladybug rolled her eyes and shook her head. She'd never figure out her partner. But then it didn't help that it was such an ungodly hour to begin with.

The warning chirp of her miraculous was a godsend. "Looks like I need to go."

"Um, before you do, when's your next date?"

With a relenting sigh, she answered him. "In a few hours. Can I go now?"

Chat Noir stared at her long and hard while his cat ears rotated as if listening to something behind him. "Would that be around 9am?"

Groaning, Ladybug gave him a single nod. "Yeah, now I'm leaving. Don't get any ideas."

But Chat Noir remained silent as he continued to stare at her wide eyed. Ladybug had no clue that her partner may have just cottoned on to who she was trying to date.

The morning didn't get any better. Marinette managed to sleep through her alarm and through Tikki poking her relentlessly on the cheek. It was only when her kwami dropped a wet washer on her face that the girl sprang to life and nearly screamed when she noticed the time. In a whirlwind of speed, she dressed for her date and scuttled out the door only to find a little girl crying about her cat being stuck in a tree.

It took everything Marinette had not to roll her eyes and curse cats in general. She patted the girl on the shoulder and told her she'd seek help. Ducking behind a dumpster in the nearest alley, she transformed into Ladybug and approached from the rooftops.

In no time the stranded kitten was rescued. The little girl was relieved and ecstatic while Ladybug posed for a number of photos wearing a very forced smile. The chime of nine was sounded on a nearby church clock and Ladybug sprinted in her sleep deprived state to the café Alya had chosen.

This time Adrien was the first and only person at the table awaiting her. His green eyes bulged as she strode into the room and sat opposite him. It took her a moment for her to catch her breath. "The others aren't here yet?" she asked.

Adrien continued to stare. "Uh, um, no."

"Great, I was running so very late. But I didn't want to put up with Alya's jibes at my tardiness again."

The model smiled at her in a mixture of friendliness and awe. She frowned. What was going on with him? It was only as she picked up a menu that she noticed her red clad arms and realised she was still transformed. Ladybug froze as her eyes widened. Slowly she turned her head to Adrien and giggled nervously. "It's a-a costume. Thought I'd do something different."

Leaning forward, Adrien placed his elbows on the table as his eyes roved over her. "It's remarkably accurate. May I see your yoyo?"

Ladybug stopped breathing momentarily. If he opened her yoyo he'd know she was the real Ladybug. "It's fixed in place."

Adrien rose to his feet, walking around the table to stand at her side, gazing at said yoyo. Dropping to his haunches, he reached for her unique weapon and skilfully removed it from her waist while she stared at him, dumbfounded.

Before she could react, he flicked open the yoyo with a slide of his thumb and his jaw dropped open. "It-it-it is you."

Snatching back the yoyo, Ladybug shot to her feet and backed away from Adrien. "Um, it's just a prank. Yeah, nothing weird. Marinette thought it'd be funny." She wished her face wasn't burning with embarrassment, it wouldn't be helping the believability of her story.

Adrien was following her as she backed away in retreat. That expression of awe remained on his face with each step. "I can hardly believe it."

"You should sit back down the others will be here soon." She stumbled out the door, running straight into Nino.

Alya squealed. "Ladybug! What are you doing here? Is there an akuma?"

"Um no. I rescued a kitten from a tree for a little girl earlier. Sounds almost cliché, right?" Her nervous giggle followed.

Adrien's voice cut in from behind her. "You saved a kitten. That's sweet."

Good grief she had to get out of there. Damn, she hoped her secret identity wasn't in jeopardy but Adrien would have to be completely clueless if he hadn't figured it out. Well, there was hope, he was blind to a lot of obvious things at times.

In a bid to escape, she tossed her yoyo and fled to the rooftops. Wincing as her friends shouted out to her, all she could do was turn and wave. Now not only was she going to be seen as late as Marinette, but there was a high likelihood that her crush had uncovered her biggest secret.

Oops, being tired and overworked can lead to trouble, if only Marinette knew it was the kind that will work in her favour.

Next chapter, things may finally go right. Thanks for reading, supporting and for the reviews!