Neither of them showed up for patrol on Friday night.

Tikki and Plagg watched sadly as their chosens dragged themselves around their daily lives. Adrien tipped his ink over his work during his Chinese lesson as he realized that Ladybug had no interest in him. Marinette collapsed at the sewing machine, shoulders shaking when she realized that she would never swirl around the dance floor in a ball gown with a certain blonde.

The kwamis decided to step in.

They couldn't communicate when they were far apart, but they were clever, and they had known each other for more years than they cared to count. So while Adrien was at his fencing lesson, and while Marinette was scanning over her notes, Tikki and Plagg met up.

Plagg knew she was coming. While they couldn't communicate from a distance, they could sense when their counterpart was nearby. So when Tikki flew through Adrien's locker to find Plagg sitting on a sports bag, eating cheese, neither of them was surprised.

"This is getting ridiculous," said Tikki, as Plagg munched his beloved Camembert. "They have to reveal their identities. The risk of them getting akumatized is growing by the day."

"Yeah," said Plagg through a mouthful of cheese. "I mean, Adrien is used to be disappointed, what with his dad being control-freak-in-chief, but this one hit him pretty hard. I don't want to sound all sappy, but he really does love her, Tikki."

"And she really loves him." Tikki groaned. "Ugh, this is so frustrating."

"Uh-huh." Plagg bit into his cheese. "I guess Adrien's plan failed."

"What plan?" demanded Tikki, her already large eyes growing wider.

"Oh." Plagg finished chewing before answering. "Okay. So when Adrien found out that Ladybug was in love with him, he was super excited. And then he was like, 'Hang on. Why is she in love with Adrien and not Chat Noir? Chat Noir is when I get to be me.' He kind of got jealous of himself, you know-" Plagg suddenly stopped. "They're coming!" he hissed. "Quick, get going before Adrien sees you in here!"

Tikki didn't need to be asked twice, and shot through the cool metal of the locker, zooming back to Marinette, who, in her despair, hadn't even noticed Tikki's absence.

MLBMLBMLB

On Saturday morning, Tikki decided it was time for her and Marinette to have a nice chat. The girl didn't agree.

"Tikki," she moaned, clutching her pillow over her face and muffling her voice, "I just want to sleep."

"No, Marinette." Tikki was firm. "This is extremely important. Come on, get up."

"Do I have to get up?" the girl asked. "Can't I just stay in bed and listen?"

Tikki rubbed her temples. "Fine. But you need to sit up and look at me."

Marinette did as her kwami asked and sat up, holding her pillow tightly and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "What is it, Tikki?"

"It's about the choice you made yesterday," replied Tikki.

"Tikki, I don't regret it. I'm going to stand by my decision."

Tikki could tell by Marinette's voice that she wasn't entirely sure. "Marinette, why did you say no?" she asked gently.

Marinette buried her face in her hands, and her dark locks spilled over her cupped hands. "Because I don't want to put my family or friends at risk. Because it feels safer if no one knows. Because I know Chat Noir, somehow, and it could stuff up our partnership. I like our chemistry. I don't want to change it."

Tikki bit her lip. "Marinette, you know that Chat Noir is facing the same risks that you are, right? But he was still willing to reveal himself."

"Because-because he loves me, goddamnit!" Marinette's shoulders shook.

"No crying, Marinette," said Tikki sternly. "Look at me."

Marinette raised her head tearfully.

"Chat Noir loves you, yes?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"And you loved Adrien, correct?"

Marinette's eyes filled with tears. "Yes."

"And how did it feel when Adrien rejected you?"

"Like-like the world would end."

"Do you think Chat Noir is feeling that, too?"

"Y-yes. Oh god, Tikki, I stuffed up."

"Marinette, what's the worst that could happen?" asked Tikki, rubbing her chosen's cheek.

Marinette choked back a sob. "What if it gets out? Terrible things would happen."

"Marinette." Tikki looked her chosen right in the eye, her gaze unwavering. "You and Chat Noir are both on the verge of being akumatized."

Marinette's face went pale and her lips quivered slightly.

"This may be the only thing that can stop it."

"Oh, god." Marinette's face crumpled like paper and she curled her legs up beneath her. Tikki was immediately there, soothing her and stroking her silky hair.

"Shhh, Marinette, calm down. No negative emotions, remember?"

The words had no effect on the secret superhero. Tikki bit her lip, beginning to panic. She couldn't tap into her power and try to protect Marinette again. Fu had warned her of the consequences, and the possibilities haunted her dreams. Marinette needed to be happy again, to forget herself….but how?

Tikki spotted Marinette's phone on the shelf above her bed and snatched it up. She shook the girl's shoulder gently. "Marinette, sit up."

She obeyed, straightening her back and rubbing her tear-stained face. The liquid tracked down her face like silvery roads on a map.

"I'm going to call Alya. Will that help, if she comes over?"

Marinette nodded fiercely and took the phone from Tikki. Her finger hovered over the 'call' button, before moving away to quickly tap out a text. Marinette didn't want Alya to hear her tears.

Tikki watched her, waiting until she hit send. "DO you want to wash your face?"

"Yeah." Marinette climbed down from her loft bed and went through the trapdoor to the bathroom, where she washed her face, tidied her hair, and tried to scrub away the evidence of her tears.

MLBMLBMLB

Adrien was used to plastering on a smile for the cameras, and he was used to getting away with it, too. Most of the time, if the photographer wasn't satisfied with his smile, a little bit of editing would take place, the photos would be shown to his father, and a few days later, they would be up on some billboard.

Today's shoot was different. For the first time in six years, Gabriel Agreste had shown up to one of his son's photoshoots, surprising pretty much everyone in the process. Adrien knew that his father had an eye for detail and was a complete perfectionist, but he'd never known exactly how picky the designer could be. He'd already complained about a speck of dirt on Adrien's cheek, the way a scarf was arranged on Adrien's shoulders, the lack of shine on Adrien's shoes, and a strand of hair that had sprung free of its hairspray prison.

And Adrien was sick of it. What would normally be a half-hour shoot had now hit the two-hour mark. Adrien's face was sore from all the different expressions he'd been forced to wear. His hair was completely rock-hard from all the hairspray touch-ups his father had insisted on. And Adrien's temper was just about worn through from dealing with his father.

The blonde model leaned against the wall of his dressing room, covering his face with his hands. He couldn't deal with this right now. Any longer and he would completely snap. And if that happened, then Gabriel would not be lenient with him. Some privilege would be taken from Adrien, a punishment for 'staining the Agreste name' in public. Although usually he was just forced to practice his piano or go to extra fencing lessons, Adrien knew exactly what punishment his father would have in mind.

There was a sudden, harsh knock on the door. "Adrien, let's go!" called one of the make-up artists.

Adrien quickly smoothed the collar of his shirt and buttoned it up. He opened the door and walked out, straight under the scrutiny of his father.

The designer frowned. "That clashes horribly." He turned to the director of the shoot. "What were you thinking?" he barked.

The director quivered like jelly under Gabriel's icy glare. "I-I'm sorry, sir. D-d-do you have any suggestions?"

Gabriel strode over to the rack of clothes, all designed by him. He snatched up another white dress shirt, almost identical to the one Adrien was wearing, except with a slightly different cut.

He handed it to his son, who took it gingerly. "Change," commanded Gabriel. When the model turned to go back to his dressing room, the designer stopped him. "Don't be ridiculous, Adrien," he snapped. "Change here."

Adrien gulped, but he knew that he had no choice. He carefully began to unbutton the shirt, slipping off the sleeves and immediately throwing on the one his father had given him.

He wasn't fast enough.

Gabriel grabbed Adrien's arm, stopping him from buttoning his shirt. "What's that?"

"Excuse me, Father?" Adrien hoped that something would happen; a light exploding, something falling. Even an akuma attack. But everyone and everything had gone still, watching Adrien and Gabriel.

"Those bruises on your back."

Adrien twisted around, trying to buy time while he scrambled for an excuse. "Well...uh...we do PE at school, father, and I ran back into one of the posts while we were playing basketball." He tried to look convincing. "It's really nothing."

Gabriel studied him for a second, before accepting the story. "Do not do it again, Adrien. If you have bruises when summer comes around, you will be hearing from me." He nodded at the director. "Carry on. I have places to be." Gabriel Agreste strode away, without even saying goodbye.

Adrien let out the breath he'd been holding. The bruises, of course, had been the result of a rough akuma attack. No way was Adrien going to tell his father that.

MLBMLBMLB

Two bowls of popcorn and one comedy movie later, Marinette was feeling much better. Alya always knew how to cheer Marinette up. She'd taken one look at the girl's puffy, red eyes and leaped into action, organizing a movie and some treats.

As the credits began to roll, Alya turned to Marinette, who was nibbling on a handful of buttery popcorn. "So, girl, feeling better?"

Marinette nodded, smiling at her friend. "Definitely. Thank you so much."

Alya grinned, waving her hand dismissively. "Ah, what are friends for? It was fun. But now, serious stuff. Brace yourself." She raised her eyebrows at Marinette. "What's the matter, girl? Am I allowed to know?"

Marinette swallowed. "I guess I just...made some mistakes," she confessed. "And then the dance is in five, no, four days and I don't know if I should go without a partner."

Alya stared at her for a minute, cogs turning. Finally, she leaped off the couch and beckoned for Marinette to follow her, leading her up the stairs to the bluenette's room.

The blogger flicked the light switch, and the shadows disappeared. Both girls were immediately drawn to stare at Marinette's unfinished gown, which hung on her mannequin, glittering like the night sky. Alya walked over to it, her sneakers tapping the floorboards.

"You going to finish it, or not?"

Marinette sighed. "Alya, you know it's totally lame to go to the dance without a partner. What's the point?"

Alya rolled her eyes. "It is not lame to go alone. Besides, you'll just hang with us. We can all go as a group, you know."

"I don't want to be a third wheel," argued Marinette. "This is your special night with Nino. I'm not going to spoil it for you."

"Pur-lease, Marinette. It's only special because we get to dress up. Valentine's Day is just some random day that is apparently all romantic. To be perfectly honest, I never saw the point. Nino and I could dress up and go dancing any time we like. Anyone could. And Marinette, you'll look bomb in that dress. How long did it take you?"

"A month or two."

"Exactly. Are you really going to let all your hard work go to waste? I'll help you finish the dress, girl. And then you're going to come to the dance, and Adrien's gonna feel like the stupidest dude in the city. Deal?"

Marinette began to smile. "Deal."

Welp, another chapter done. And I took a while to update again. Sorry, guys. At this point, I'm trying to work out what's going to happen. Don't worry, I have a rough plan, but I'm sort of just fine-tuning it. As always, thanks for reading!