Chat Noir arrived three minutes late, much to his partner's annoyance. He couldn't really see what the big deal was, but let Ladybug scold him, figuring that she was just stressed.

Ladybug finished berating him quickly. "Ready, Chat?" he asked.

"Always, my lady."

They dropped onto street level, and stood outside Master Fu's place, side by side. Taking deep breaths, Ladybug walked forwards and pushed open the door, motioning for Chat to walk through. Before Ladybug could do anything, Chat knocked on Fu's door.

"Come in," came a gravelly voice. The pair glanced at each other, then stepped through warily.

Master Fu knelt by the rug on the floor, resplendent in his trademark Hawaiian shirt that was as red as Ladybug's suit. A cup of tea st beside him, steam rising from it, and Wayzz floated around his head, looking surprisingly awake for once.

"Ah, the brave guardians of Paris," he said with a smile. "Come, sit."

They obeyed, kneeling awkwardly across from him. He smiled at them. "This is not just a social trip, yes?"

Ladybug glanced at Chat, then jumped in. "You're right, this isn't a social visit. We have some...matters to talk to you about."

"What kind of matters?"

Ladybug gave Chat a meaningful look, widening her eyes and jerking her head towards Fu. He got the message. "Uh, yeah. It's kind of hard to explain, but my kwami told me that we needed to see you. He said that I'd hurt Ladybug badly, and we needed you to step in before someone got akumatized." He glanced at Ladybug. "Thankfully, that hasn't happened yet, but we still need your guidance."

Fu stroked his chin. "I see," he muttered to himself. He turned to the superheroes. "Before I do anything, I have to speak with your kwamis. Ladybug, is Tikki willing to communicate through you, or do you need to drop your transformation?"

Ladybug concentrated hard, mentally reaching out to her kwami. Tikki?

Yes, Marinette?

Can you talk with Master Fu through me, or do I have to detransform?

There are things we need to discuss that you can't know about..yet. We'll have to detransform.

Ladybug looked up at Fu. "She says she has to speak with you directly, and in private," she answered.

The old man nodded. "Very well. I will assume that Plagg requires the same thing. Chat, will you please go into the next room? Wayzz will keep an eye on you."

Chat frowned. "Am I not trustworthy?"

Master Fu shook his head. "It is not that, my boy. I simply know the personality of a Chat Noir well...and your temptations." He raised an eyebrow, and Chat wondered if Fu somehow knew about that night a year ago, after they'd fought Lady Wifi, when Ladybug had gone into a room to transform, leaving the door slightly open. Closing that door had been one of the hardest things he'd had to do.

Ladybug was looking at him quizzically. Chat cleared his throat and nodded. "I'll go." He left the room with Wayzz, tossing a longing look at Ladybug before he closed the door on her- again.

MLBMLBMLB

Ladybug waited until the door had clicked shut before dropping her transformation. "Tikki, spots off," she muttered, and a rosy glow flashed down her body, stripping her of her disguise and leaving her in the sweater and jeans she'd been wearing earlier. Tikki tumbled out of her earrings, gasping and squeaking.

"How are you, Tikki?" asked Fu, smiling at the little creature.

She shook out her tiny limbs. "I'm fine, thank you. Marinette has gotten much better at keeping her emotions in check, though there have been some close calls." She frowned at her chosen, who shrugged.

"I'm glad to hear that you are in good health, Tikki," replied the guardian. "But Marinette, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave the room while I discuss matters with Tikki. Can you wait in the hallway?"

"Yes, sir." Marinette left the room, shutting the door with a click and sinking to the floor, her back pressed against the wall. Although she could have easily pressed her ear to the door, the girl made no attempt to listen in on the conversation. She tipped her head back, staring at the ceiling, and sighed. She just wanted this to be over. Wasn't it enough that she had to deal with all the issues in her normal life? Did the job of a superhero really have to be so hard?

Most of the Parisians who watched Ladybug and Chat Noir, and dreamed of being like them, had no idea how difficult it was. They thought it was just dressing up in a skin-tight suit, having cool powers and defeating the bad guy. They didn't see what went on behind the scenes; trauma and occasionally pain from vicious akumas; constant patrol, so they never let their guard down; immense pressure to always save the day and never mess up; and having to constantly ward off akumas, because if one of the duo were akumatized, Paris would almost surely be doomed.

As Marinette thought this all out, the door creaked open, and Master Fu peered out, followed by Tikki. "Marinette, I've finished talking with Tikki. She has told me….interesting things." He glanced at the kwami, who gave nothing away. "However, I must talk to Chat Noir's kwami now," he continued. "Transform, then follow me, please."

Marinette nodded. "Tikki, spots on!" she cried, gasping as she felt the kwami's power enter her earrings and gush through her. The suit covered her, and Ladybug stood in Master Fu's hallway.

He smiled. "Very good. Now, come with me." The superheroine followed the old man down the corridor, stopping outside another door.

"Chat Noir, are you still transformed?" called Fu.

There was a scuffling sound from inside. "Uh….yeah?"

"Can you step outside, then?"

The door was pushed open, and a sheepish Chat Noir stepped out. He grinned at Ladybug, who smiled in return.

"Chat Noir, please come with me. Ladybug, stay in here. Wayzz will watch over you." He turned to Chat. "See, you're both untrustworthy."

Ladybug's mouth fell open, and she gave the Guardian an indignant look. He burst into peals of laughter. "Only joking. Don't glare at me so, my dear." He and Chat left, and Ladybug ducked inside the room, firmly closing the door.

MLBMLBMLB

Several minutes later, Ladybug and Chat Noir both sat inside Master Fu's main room. He considered them, sipping his tea as Wayzz perched on his shoulder.

"I have spoken with your kwamis, and I have come to a conclusion," he began, stirring his tea. "Chat Noir has indeed made a series of serious mistakes, although I am sure that the consequences didn't seem so grave when he made them. I would like to explain them to you, Ladybug, and to you, Chat Noir, as even you don't know the extent of what you've done. However, I cannot. It is impossible to do so….unless we take certain measures." He gave them both a meaningful look, and Ladybug felt her heart begin to pound.

"What kind of measures?" she asked carefully, trying to control her breathing.

"Measures that I will tell you about now," replied Fu. "In private," he added. "Ladybug, we'll let Chat Noir go first this time. If you would please wait outside?" He snapped his fingers at Wayzz, who followed Ladybug out, much to her distaste. She liked Wayzz but was annoyed that Master Fu didn't trust her not to listen in.

She pulled out her yo-yo and began to check up on the Ladyblog, scrolling leisurely through the pages. Wayzz nestled on her shoulder, tucking himself under her pigtail and settling down for a nap. Ladybug smiled slightly as she continued to read. There was a new message, a repeat of the one Alya had put up a week ago, asking Ladybug and Chat Noir to attend the Valentine's Dance. Ladybug sighed. She'd barely even thought about that invitation. She didn't even know if she'd go to the dance. Maybe Ladybug would discuss it with Chat later.

The spotted heroine continued to flick through photographs of herself and her partner, articles about the two, conspiracy theories and fan art of the pair. She had to smile at a crayon scribble of the duo, done by a four-year-old girl by the name of Chantelle.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and Ladybug squeaked and fumbled with her yo-yo, turning around carefully, so as not to upset Wayzz, who somehow had not woken. Master Fu looked down at her.

"Ready, Ladybug?"

She swallowed, tucking away her yo-yo. "I suppose," she managed, trying to sound nonchalant, but unable to ignore the huge lump in her throat that had much to do with her suspicion of what Fu would ask her.

When she stepped into the room, she was surprised to find it empty. She hadn't noticed Chat leave, but perhaps that had been Fu's preference. Ladybug knelt opposite Fu, tucking her legs beneath her. Wayzz continued to rest on the shoulder.

The old man poured a steaming cup of tea from his china teapot and offered it to the superheroine. She gratefully accepted, cupping the mug in her gloved hands.

"You know what I'm going to ask you," said the old man, watching her carefully. It was a statement, not a question.

Ladybug gulped. "I...no. I don't know," she replied truthfully. When Fu raised his grey eyebrow, she continued. "But I do have a suspicion. And….I don't really like the idea," she admitted.

Fu nodded, as though he'd been expecting her reply. "Well, you may be wrong in your thinking. Or you may be right. We shall see." He took another sip of his tea, and Ladybug wondered if it would ever run out.

She took a deep breath. "I hope I'm wrong. But go ahead." She set down her cup and clasped her hands together, squeezing tightly.

Master Fu met her eyes. "Ladybug, holder of the Ladybug Miraculous and the power of creation and good luck, would you be willing to share your identity with your partner, and in turn receive knowledge of Chat Noir's identity?"

Ladybug' heart stopped momentarily as the weight of Fu's words crashed down on her. So she had been right. Now what was she going to do?

The heroine closed her eyes, trying to breathe deeply. Her brain was screaming, Say no! Say no! She consulted Tikki.

Tikki, help!

Marinette… this is a decision that only you can make.

I'm not asking you to. I'm only asking for advice.

There was a brief silence as Tikki deliberated her answer. I think you should do it.

Do I know him?

Another silence, longer this time. Does it matter?

Yes, it does, insisted Ladybug. Do I, or not?

Tikki didn't answer, which was practically an answer in itself.

See, this is why. We know each other, and it could ruin our relationship. What if I hate him? What if he hates me?

Is that your only reason?

Ladybug squeezed her eyes, scrunching up her face. No. My main reason is...well, it's one more may that Hawkmoth could find out, isn't it? One more chance that my family and friends could be targeted. I don't want that to happen, Tikki, it's my worst fear.

I think you should do it. But listen to your heart, Marinette.

Ladybug opened her eyes. Master Fu was again drinking tea. He lowered his cup to look at her. "Have you made your decision?" he asked gently.

Ladybug breathed in. Did she really want this?

"Yes, I have made my decision."

MLBMLBMLB

Chat Noir dug his claws into the palm of his hand, curling his fingers and bouncing excitedly on his toes. He flashed huge grins and Ladybug, who was standing in silence, head bowed and eyes downcast like there was a very interesting bug on her foot.

Master Fu cleared his throat. "Ladybug, Chat Noir. I have asked you both the same question, and have come to a decision based on your answers. And a very difficult decision it was indeed." He held their gaze for a moment, though it was difficult. Chat looked at him eagerly, but Ladybug kept looking down, eventually peeking up through her midnight fringe.

"One of you said that you would be willing to reveal your identities."

Ladybug shrunk away, determined not to look at Chat, or to see the hopeful expression on his face turn crumpled and sad.

"The other said that said they would not be willing to unmask themselves." Fu let his words hang in the air, and Ladybug wondered if he was secretly enjoying the drama, despite the seriousness of both the situation and his expression.

Ladybug couldn't look at her partner, though she had heard his wounded gasp. She felt a deep blush of shame spread across her face, although she didn't regret her decision. She regretted the impact it would have on others.

Namely, Chat Noir and their partnership.

Hi guys! Oh my gosh, this chapter was so fun to write! Goodbye, writer's block! I hope you liked it, and as always, thank you to those legends who favourited/ followed/ reviewed this story! See you next time!