Marinette slammed her forehead onto her keyboard, causing a string of letters to appear in her search bar: fdrfgttttttttt. That pretty much explained what she was feeling- a mix of anger and apprehension. Anger towards her best friend, and fear of tonight's patrol.

Marinette clicked back onto the website she had been looking at before fury had caused her to face-plant onto her keyboard. It was a familiar site, and not usually one that caused her to feel the emotions she was feeling. It was the Ladyblog, run by her best friend and visited by thousands of Ladybug fans. It was definitely strange to know that your alter ego had so many dedicated fans, but even that couldn't mollify Marinette's rage at one particular fan- Alya Cesaire.

Maybe it wasn't completely Alya's fault. Maybe it was Chloe's fault, for even suggesting it. Maybe it was her classmates', for agreeing to it. But Marinette was so used to anger at Chloe, so utterly sick of it that she needed someone new.

Today, Alya was the prime receiver.

Marinette stared at the new post on the Ladyblog, added just an hour ago. It was aimed directly at Ladybug and her superhero partner, Chat Noir. It read:

Hi, Ladybloggers! Alya here, with a direct message to Paris' favourite heroes, the incredible Ladybug and fantastic Chat Noir! If you're reading this, the students of Collège Françoise Dupont want you to come to our Masquerade Valentine's Day Dance! We absolutely love your work, and even just a few minutes would make our day! February 14, 6:00 pm in the school courtyard! Thanks!

The above message was accompanied by a photo of the duo in their masks, the time they had fought Horrificator in the school. Marinette groaned. Seriously? Now if Ladybug cancelled, everyone would know. She was trapped between disappointing her fans, or arousing suspicion about her true identity if Ladybug went and Marinette cancelled. Ughh.

Now what was she going to do?

Tikki flew up towards Marinette. "It's not so bad," she said. "You've handled worse."

The superhero lifted her head from her desk, eyeing her kwami skeptically. "Oh, yeah?"

Tikki nodded empathetically. "Oh, yes! Do you remember that time when you had to delete that voice message from Adrien's phone, the day Copycat was akumatized? You thought you wouldn't survive that, and now look at you!"

Marinette smiled weakly. "I remember, Tikki. But this time…. my identity is at risk. And I can't give up Ladybug, or you."

Tikki smiled cheekily. "Or Chat Noir?"

Marinette swatted at her playfully. "Chat Noir is my friend, Tikki. Or at least, he was…." Marinette gazed out her window at the city, and Tikki knew that she was thinking about what had happened last night, when she had told Chat Noir about Adrien.

"I shouldn't have told him, Tikki," she said quietly, almost to herself. "Now he knows that I see Adrien a lot. That's too much information. And this time, it's all my fault."

She looked up at the kwami, eyes glittering with fear. Tikki rubbed the girl's cheek, trying to comfort the distraught superhero.

"I can't lose you, Tikki," she sniffled. "If someone finds out my identity, you'll have to pick another Ladybug. And you help me so much, I wouldn't know how to cope without you. Ladybug is my escape. I'm different when I'm her. Less shy. Maybe that's why Chat likes me." She looked at the kwami. "He said he loves Ladybug, before Glaciator attacked. He was so hurt when I didn't come to dinner. He told me I was perfect, and said he didn't care if I didn't like him, just as long as I was happy. Do you think- do you think he really does love me? The way I love Adrien?"

Tikki smiled at her chosen. "I think so, Marinette."

Marinette's eyes widened. "Oh, no. And I rejected him…. I really did break his heart. I would be heartbroken if Adrien did that to me." She punched herself in the arm. Hard. "I'm a horrible person, Tikki. A horrible, selfish person."

"No you're not!" squeaked Tikki. "Everyone makes mistakes. The best thing we can do is learn from them."

Marinette smiled fondly at the kwami. "What would I do without you, Tikki?" Suddenly her expression changed to horror. "I've got patrol tonight! With Chat! Nonononooooo!" she wailed.

Tikki laughed. "Calm down, Marinette. You'll be fine. Just try to relax. Maybe you could work on your dress!"

Marinette pouted. "Ugh. I thought Ladybug was supposed to be lucky," she grumbled. "Yeah, I should probably work on the dress. Even if Adrien isn't coming to the dance," she added sadly, looking at one of her many photographs of the blonde model. With a wistful sigh, she started up her sewing machine, and began to carefully stitch another seam.

Five thirty came quickly- too quickly for Marinette's liking. Time always seemed to fly when she was working on a project. Too bad it didn't when she was at school or on patrol. Well, okay, patrol used to be fun. There was almost nothing like the adrenaline of soaring over the rooftops of Paris with Chat Noir. It gave her a sort of freedom she could never have as Marinette. Perhaps because when she was in the mask, no one knew her true clumsy self. It was easy to act like an entirely different person then.

Not that Marinette didn't like her civilian self. She was content and comfortable with being Marinette, and if Tikki hadn't picked her, she probably would have been quite happy as just Marinette, without the side serving of living a double life. But then again, you couldn't miss what you'd never had.

Marinette wondered if maybe Chat Noir felt the same way about being a superhero. Maybe his civilian self wasn't the same as his superhero self. Or then again, maybe not.

"Come on, Marinette," cried Tikki. "You'll be late!"

Marinette groaned. "Tikki, spots on!"

A pink glow filled her room as Tikki's spirit coursed through Marinette. Her tight red-and-black suit slid over her body, just like a second skin. Light swirled around her head, and with a twirl, there stood a fully transformed Ladybug, mask and all.

The blue-haired superheroine leapt out the trapdoor and off her balcony, body glowing in the golden sunlight as day turned to night. Using her yo-yo, she moved towards the Tower, heavily hoping that her black- suited partner wouldn't mention the events of last night. If he did, Ladybug would be very tempted to push him off the Eiffel Tower.

After all, didn't cats always land on their feet?

After almost a year of fighting with Ladybug, Chat Noir thought he knew her moods pretty well, especially considering that he knew virtually nothing about her as a person. He'd seen her sad, happy, angry, excited, flirtatious, and tired. He'd learnt to read her too, like the way she played with her hair when she was nervous, or wriggled her body when she was excited.

But Chat Noir had never seen his partner like this before. He'd never have believed that she could be so shy. Ladybug was widely regarded as the sassy, bold, confident superheroine. Shyness was most definitely not a trait he would usually associated with his lady.

Except now, as they jogged over the city's rooftops, Ladybug wasn't bantering with him like she normally would. When she'd shown up at the Eiffel Tower, she'd whispered a greeting and immediately zipped away, her posture slightly hunched, almost as though she was afraid.

Chat Noir hated to think that his actions last night had destroyed their usual chemistry. Yes, he'd often wished for something more, but he liked the feeling of their partnership. As a civilian, Chat could never joke around like that, except maybe with Nino or Alya. So to break the thick layer of tension in the air, Chat decided to do what he did best- bust out the puns.

"Ladybug, can we paws for a second?"

The red-suited girl screeched to a halt. "Why?"

"I just need to cat-ch my breath," said Chat Noir, hoping she would pick up on the pun.

Ladybug shrugged indifferently, much to the disappointment of her partner. "Fine, whatever. I don't-" She froze, and slowly turned to face Chat. "Did you seriously just make a pun?"

Chat grinned and nodded, delighted.

Ladybug glared. "What the hell is your problem? Can you not shut up with the puns?"

Chat elbowed her. "Come on, LB. You know you love them!"

She muttered something under her breath. It sounded suspiciously like she had said bloody puns.

Now Chat Noir was confused. She seemed annoyed. Like, really annoyed.

"Did you have a bad day?" he tried tentatively, very aware that he was toeing the line.

Ladybug swiveled. "No."

"Then why are you so-"

"GOD!" yelled Ladybug. "Just cut it out, okay!"

"Is it that time-"

"OH MY GOD!" she screeched. "IT IS NOT THAT TIME OF THE MONTH! IS A GIRL NOT ALLOWED TO BE ANNOYED WITHOUT SOMEONE ASKING THAT!?"

She marched towards him, and Chat flinched, sure she was about to punch him.

Instead, she did something worse.

She pushed him off the building.

Hi readers! A bit of Ladybug anger in this chapter! Sorry I took a while to update. I had a bit of a slack day, and honestly just couldn't be bothered doing anything! I'll try to make the next chapter quick. It should be ready in two or three days, but until then, hang tight! I will get there! And also, sorry for the cliffhanger, but as you may know, being annoying is my thing. You probably didn't need more suspense though, what with all the little spoilers for the next episode. Sorry!

Thanks for reading, and especially thanks to my reviewers! I love reading your opinions, so thank you so much!

Until next time! ~ Miss Eucalypt Writes xxx