They stood in the hallway outside the flat, waiting for someone to respond to their knocks.

"So what's Alya plotting today?"

"No idea. She just said that we needed to come over to Nino's place. I'm hoping that means anime or games or something. Or maybe karaoke. Do you sing, Adrien?"

"Sometimes, but not usually for an audience..."

The door swung open with an enthusiastic "Hi guys!" On the other side, Nino was grinning as he held the door open, and Alya was aiming her phone camera at them with an evil smile.

"Come on in! But don't forget to look up!" enthused Alya.

Marinette and Adrien looked up with dread. Inside the door hung a little bundle of grey-green leaves tied with a red ribbon.

"Um... Alya? It's only November. The mistletoe thing is for Christmas, remember?" said Marinette in a calm voice despite her massive blush.

"Who cares? You two need to practice your kissing if you're going to be ready by then! Now pucker up!"

Adrien had turned pale, and was looking uncomfortably from the mistletoe to Marinette to Alya's camera. "I. Um. I just remembered I, um, need to be somewhere else. Bye!" He gave an uncomfortable wave and fled, heading towards the building exit.

Marinette glared at Alya, who was looking surprised and confused. "Now see what you've done! Argh. I'm going to see if I can catch him. *You* take that *down*. We'll talk about this later." She whirled and ran to follow Adrien.

"But... I thought they'd think it was cute!" said Alya to Nino, lowering her phone and looking guilty. "You can tell they like each other... Crap. Marinette is going to be so angry."

Nino gave her a hug and reached up to take down the mistletoe bundle. "Guess Adrien really is as shy as he acts sometimes. Just apologize, I'm sure they'll forgive you. You know how nice they both are."

"I know, but... crap. This is going to be *so* awkward."

Outside in the park, Marinette finally caught up with Adrien. He'd sat down on a park bench, knees tucked up under his chin and looking stressed. She sat down next to him, far enough away to avoid any accidental touching.

"Hey, um. Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting anything so pushy or I'd never have gone. Are you OK? I gave Alya a piece of my mind."

Adrien shrugged, still hunched over in his defensive pose. "I just... I couldn't handle it. Lying to them. Kissing you. Not kissing you. It was just... too much. I'm sorry. I think maybe we should end this. Stop pretending. At least it would get them off of your back."

Marinette gave him a worried look. "You don't have anything to apologize for, Adrien. This was Alya's bad idea. And... we can totally have a fake break-up to go with the fake relationship, but are you sure that's what you want? You were practically floating through school the other day. Alya kept making thumbs-up signs at me. Do you want her asking the awkward questions again?"

Adrien sighed. "No, of course not. But... this isn't fair to you. And I *can't* kiss you like that, let alone in public. Alya's going to catch on to this being a fake, and then I'll be in even more trouble."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Marinette hesitantly spoke up. "I... um... have an idea about how to stop Alya from trying to trick us into kissing. But... I'm not sure if you're going to like it."

Adrien laughed bitterly. "So what else is new? What's the idea? It can't be worse than the ones I'm coming up with."
"Well, um..." Marinette turned pink. "We could tell her you're. Um. Ace."

Adrien turned and looked at her in confusion. "Ace?"

"Er. Um." Marinette's cheeks got brighter. "Asexual" she blurted out as quickly as possible. "Um. You know. People who, um. Don't like. Um. Stuff. Physical. Things. You know. Um. So as long as Alya doesn't catch you making out with your secret girlfriend or something... er." She was looking anywhere except at Adrien.

"Huh. That might actually work! Assuming you don't die from embarrassment, that is." Adrien grinned at her. "You know that's really cute, right?"

"Eep!" Marinette buried her bright red face in her knees and covered her head with her arms. "I. Cute. Um. Eep."

Adrien chuckled, uncurling himself, and patted Marinette's pigtails affectionately. "Yes, cute. I'll go tell her while you recover. And then maybe we can try again on that anime watching thing?"

There was a muffled squeak.

"Good, I'll take that as a yes." Adrien grinned. "You really do have good ideas, Marinette. You should trust yourself more. See you soon!"

When Adrien poked his head back into Nino's apartment, Alya was curled up on the couch being held by Nino, her body language practically screaming guilt. At the sound of the door opening, they both looked up.

"Hey... um... I just wanted to apologize about before. You startled me. Er." Adrien slipped inside and stood awkwardly next to the door,
rubbing the back of his head. "I know you mean well, it's just..."

Alya stood up and came over to him. "I am so, so sorry, Adrien! I was too excited about you and Marinette being awesome together, and I didn't realize you really minded. I'm a terrible friend!"

"No! It's ok, just... I just, um, think I might be asexual. I don't like doing... that stuff... at least right now. So, uh, Marinette and I... we like to just keep things friendly, you know? And I get enough of cameras the rest of the time, so I didn't react well. Sorry." He stared at the ground.

Alya looked horrified. "Oh, no! I had no idea... I'm so sorry! I promise, I'll stop!"

Adrien looked up and smiled cautiously. "So... friends?" He stuck his hand out.

"Friends!" Alya declared. "...speaking of which, what happened to Marinette?"

"She'll be along soon. So... what was the plan for the afternoon,
again?"

Ladybug and Adrien sat side by side on a picturesque roof, watching the sun go down. "I do wish that cards didn't blow away in the breeze so easily", Adrien was saying. "Any time with you is time worth spending, but it would be nice if we could play games or something togehter sometime."

Ladybug grinned at him. "Might as well wish for Ultimate Mecha Strike while you're at it. I'm not bad, and I hear you're pretty good yourself. Sadly, it works even less well on rooftops." Their cheerful banter was interrupted by a buzzing from Ladybug's yoyo. She pulled it out and opened it to reveal a TV news bulletin.

"...it has just been revealed that today's massive spate of accidents snarling traffic and creating havoc across Paris is actually the result of an akuma! And not a new akuma, either. Vulpina, who once convinced Paris that she was a superhero in the same style as Ladybug and Chat Noir, has returned, and this time, she's found new ways to use her power of illusion. The Mayor has called a press conference to ask Parisians to stay indoors and avoid any potentially dangerous situations..."

Ladybug sighed. "So much for the rest of the sunset. Looks like it's time for me to run." She stood up and reached a hand down to help Adrien to his feet.

Adrien didn't move, staring out over Paris.

"Adrien? I've got to go."

Adrien looked up at her. "Wait." He stood up and turned to Ladybug as she stared at him in confusion. "That's Vulpina again. She's back. And... the last time you fought her, you nearly gave up your miraculous because you thought she had me. She knows that you're vulnerable if she threatens me. And... that was before."

Ladybug looked even more confused. "How...?" But Adrien hadn't finished.

"You were right about how dangerous it is to reveal your identity. But right now, you're in a lot more danger because you don't know *my* identity. I... hadn't really planned on this, but I'd do anything to keep you safe. And besides, if Hawk Moth ever mind-controls you, we have larger problems. So. Um." He took a deep breath, as Ladybug's eyes widened in alarm. "Plagg, claws out!"

Ladybug stood with her mouth open, staring at her partner. Chat Noir didn't meet her eyes. "So, um. You probably need a minute, I'll go hold off Vulpina until you get there. Er." Chat Noir reached into a suit pocket and pulled out a small package. "For Tikki. In case you need to refresh. Um. Let's... talk later. Tonight. For now... um... see you soon." Ladybug automatically accepted the little gift and stared down at it as Chat Noir extended his stick and soared off over the rooftops. It was a package of cookies; plastic-wrapped and industrial, but a higher-end brand. The kind that would keep for a long time, just in case, but still be at least decent. She stared down at them, and then back off into the distance where Chat Noir had vanished.

Reflected streetlights competed with the thin crescent moon to provide dim illumination of Ladybug's quiet figure, as she sat and dangled her legs off of the edge of a rooftop and looked out towards the Eiffel Tower. There was a small thump behind her, and Chat Noir crouched down next to her in a pose that would have looked uncomfortable on a human but was somehow reasonable on the semi-feline figure. He looked calm and peaceful, but the constant twitching of his tail and slightly flattened ears revealed his nerves. They sat in silence for a while, until eventually Chat Noir gave in.

"...so. Um. Are you mad at me?"

There was another quiet pause before Ladybug answered. "A little bit. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. I mean... we agreed on how important the secrecy was, so it's not as though you were actively deceiving me. I just feel like a bit of an idiot. And... I can't help but wonder if it all was genuine. Chat Noir is such a jokester, after all... and I would never have imagined that out of Adrien."

Chat Noir's shoulders slumped. "You're my everything, milady. It was all genuine. Always. I only made jokes of it because then I could pretend you weren't really rejecting me. And because I didn't really know what I was doing. Which reminds me, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable trying to be romantic, I never meant to pressure you."

Ladybug reached out and gave his shoulder a small squeeze. "I know. I... figured out a lot of connections this evening. I don't *really* doubt you, I just... this is going to take some getting used to." She glanced at him. "I... don't suppose you'd mind dropping the mask? It's irrational, but it's easier for me to talk to Adrien."

"Well, I didn't bring any of my disguises, but for you, my heart, anything. At least for a little while." He retreated into the shadows of a chimney, and released Chat Noir's suit to reveal Adrien's vulnerable-looking eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar silver heart-shaped lock, squeezed it, and offered it on an open hand to Ladybug, not quite meeting her eyes. "This... is yours, milady. Always. If you want me to go..." He swallowed hard and stopped, eyes closed, unable to finish the sentence.

Ladybug's gentle fingers closed his hand around the lock, and wrapped his hand in hers. "Never." Adrien's green eyes looked up to find Ladybug's blue eyes wet with unshed tears. "I love you, remember?" Ladybug gave him a halfhearted smile. "Besides, where would I find another partner half as good? We've barely started training Rena Rouge, remember?"

The green eyes searched hers. "So... you're OK with my being Chat Noir?"

"Well, it'll take some getting used to, but I'll manage." Ladybug grinned slightly. "And you get to make your *own* way up on the rooftops for dates from now on! I suppose I understand now why you were never afraid of heights." She paused. "...can I ask you something, though?"

"Anything."

"So... you're the least arrogant person I know. Adrien, that is. Even though you have every excuse in the world to be worse than Chloe if you wanted to be. But Chat Noir is totally full of himself. It's the main reason I'd never have thought you were the same person. So... what's different?"

Adrien looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure. It's hard *not* to put on the tomcat swagger in the suit. I just feel on top of the world. It might be because of Plagg; he's certainly one of the most self-important creatures I've ever met."

A small black catlike figure with an oversized head came flying out of Adrien's shirt and glared at him. "Oh, so it's *my* fault, is it kid? Just because *you* don't have a proper ego, we'll blame Plagg. Hmph. See if I help *you* transform next time."

Adrien rolled his eyes and pulled a chunk of cheese out of a plastic bag in his pocket. Plagg's eyes widened and the kwami grinned. "Camembert! OK, kid, I suppose I'll keep you around for now."

"Ladybug, meet Plagg. Plagg, Ladybug. Plagg is my kwami, friend, and all-around troublemaker. If you feed him cheese, he'll be your best friend forever."

"Hey! That's totally not true! The cheese is my best friend. The human feeding me is just a secondary relationship." Plagg made a face at Adrien, and then flew up to hover at eye level in front of Ladybug. "Hi! Nice to meet you face to face, although really, I feel like we've known each other forever given how much this one talks about you. And how many of your sappy conversations I've had to sit through. The things I put up with..." Adrien blushed but smiled shyly up at Ladybug. Ladybug grinned back.

"Nice to meet you, Plagg. So... *do* you affect his personality when he's Chat Noir?"

Plagg harumphed. "Only a little. After all, I'm giving him the best of myself, aren't I? It shouldn't be any surprise if a little of my sparkling personality rubs off too. The only reason Tikki doesn't show much is because you're so similar anyway. And besides, Tikki is a total goody-two-shoes and never wants to do anything *fun*. I like to encourage my chosen to enjoy the better things in life!"

Adrien was giving Plagg a funny look. "In other words, the things that I do as Chat Noir that annoy Ladybug are *your* fault?"

"Pshaw, that's such a negative way to think about it. Besides, she fell for you anyway, why are you worried?"

Adrien and Ladybug met each other's eyes and started laughing. Plagg looked offended.

"I suppose I can learn to live with it. At least I understand better now," Ladybug said, grinning. She leaned over and kissed Adrien gently on the cheek, and then leaned back and looked at him. "I should probably get used to seeing you in the mask again before our next fight, if you want to transform back. I don't want to freeze up again like I did earlier. It's dangerous." She sighed. "Although I don't know how I'm going to get used to the idea that *Adrien* has been the one throwing himself in front of me for all this time. Or that I've been putting *Adrien* in danger to distract enemies while I get a plan into place..."

Adrien looked at her thoughtfully. "So you trust Chat Noir to protect you, but you want to protect Adrien? I will point out, my heart, that I've at least once saved you *without* the mask on. I am the same person, after all, Plagg or no Plagg. But we're both a lot safer in our suits, so it's not entirely unreasonable to act like I'm more fragile without one."

Ladybug tilted her head. "I suppose that's a good way to think about it. But I mostly just need to get used to the idea."

"Well, then. Plagg, claws out!" Chat Noir grinned back at her from Adrien's hiding place, his smile somehow wider under the black mask. Ladybug looked at him, and then leaned over and cautiously gave him another kiss, this time on the other cheek. Chat's green eyes lit up and he smiled even more. Ladybug looked at his enthusiastic face and started laughing. Chat harumphed. "You'd be happy too if you'd been waiting this long for a kiss!"

"I suppose." Ladybug smiled, but a moment later the smile rapidly became serious. "...wait. So if Chat Noir is Adrien... that means you're actually *living with* someone who might be working with Hawk Moth? That sounds incredibly dangerous! What if he notices?"

Chat Noir sighed, the happiness running off of his face and his shoulders sagging. "I don't know. I don't think my father can have noticed yet, or I'd be in much bigger trouble, but he's surprised me before. I would *never* have guessed he was hiding *anything* behind that painting of Mother, let alone a missing miraculous and a weird book. Which reminds me- why didn't you tell me about those? I mean... I'm your partner..." He looked, if anything, even more dejected. Ladybug reached out and pulled him into a hug.

"I was protecting Adrien. Although that sounds a bit silly under the circumstances. I... didn't want Chat Noir knowing about him... er... you... er... " She paused and startd over. "I didn't know how to explain to Chat Noir where I was getting the information without exposing something."

"But where did you find out about the other miraculous? And their being associated with the book?"

Ladybug sighed. "That secret still isn't mine to tell, for the same reason I shouldn't tell you my identity. Even though I feel really,
really guilty about that now..."

Chat Noir looked alarmed and sat up out of the hug. "No! Don't! You were right about that before. It's not that I don't want to know,
but... it's not worth the risk. Especially if I really *am* living with Hawk Moth."

Ladybug looked at him, eyes suddenly vulnerable. "I'm afraid you'll be mad at me when you find out."

It was Chat Noir's turn to pull Ladybug into a hug. "Never!" She reached up and hugged him back, and they sat there for a moment, just holding each other, before leaning back on the chimney to look up at the stars.

"I still can't believe you actually went on a date with me in public dressed as *yourself*. In hindsight, that was so risky! Tikki would never have let me do something like that."

"Plagg thought it was funny. I think he's a lot more comfortable with risks than it sounds like Tikki is. But there is a reason I tried to find the least accurate costume I could, just to reduce the resemblance."

"I suppose it worked, so I shouldn't complain much. That day was so amazing. I can't regret anything." She squeezed him gently.

"Ummm... milady..." Chat Noir sounded unusually hesitant. "Can... I ask for something? I know it's weird, you can totally say no..."

Ladybug looked at him, one eyebrow raised. "Oh?"

"Um... would you... er... pet me?" He turned so pink under his black mask that it was visible even in the dim light and hunched his shoulders. "...I know, it's weird, but... I just... um..."

Ladybug giggled. "You really *are* catlike with the mask on, aren't you. Sure. Come here, you silly kitty." She pulled him close, and he curled up next to her contentedly, head in her lap. She ran her fingers through the soft golden hair and scritched gently behind the leather ears, and Chat relaxed, eyes closed, radiating happiness. A moment later, a deep rumbling came from his curled form. Ladybug stopped scritching and leaned over to look in Chat's face,
grinning. "You really *do* purr!" Chat looked alarmed, and then laughed sheepishly.

"Um. Do I? Sorry..."

Ladybug laughed and sat back up to start scritching again. "It's ok. It's actually kind of cute."

"Cute, huh?" Chat smiled, and relaxed back into Ladybug's lap. The purring resumed, and the two heroes sat contentedly, enjoying the night.

"Marinette? Master Wu says it's time."

Ladybug led Adrien into the peaceful little room and removed his blindfold.

"Hello, Master Wu. I brought Adrien with me, as you asked."

"Chat Noir. It is good to see you again. Would you like some tea?
Ladybug, there is tea behind the screen there so Tikki can join us."

Adrien looked longingly at the screen as a brief pink flash indicated that the person sitting on the other side was no longer wearing Ladybug's mask, then turned back to Master Wu and bowed as he accepted the tea and sat. He watched, bemused, as a little red-and-black spotted kwami joined Plagg and a small green kwami for their own miniature tea on a table nearby. For once, Plagg wasn't grumbling about a lack of cheese.

After carefully returning the teapot to its tray, Master Wu looked up at Adrien.

"I have looked forward to meeting you properly for some time, Adrien,
and I am sorry that it has happened under such circumstances. Unfortunately, we have dark things to discuss, and I need your help.

"I have spent time meditating in connection with the peacock kwami,
and although there is a limit to how much it can tell me, I can see that its last wielder was a tall blond woman with green eyes, who looked much like you. And that there was pain in the end.

"I am sorry to have to ask you this, Adrien, but... what do you know about your mother's disappearance?"

- to be continued -

This fic is complete; there will be a sequel, but it will be a lot darker. Feedback from this fic will definitely play into that one.

Also, folks, don't be Alya, and don't be our lovable but boundary-free couple here. Boundaries are important, and nobody should feel obliged to do *anything* they're not comfortable in a relationship, ever. No excuses required. Lots of folks really aren't comfortable with physical affection or physical affection in public, and it is *not* necessarily a sign of lack of love, romance, or physical attraction. Respect their choices. Also, pretending to be a sexuality you aren't is a bad idea for all kinds of reasons, and if you and your friends/family have healthy boundaries, you'll never need to. The author does *not* condone all character choices, even when they're the 'good guys'.