Alya had never been overly fond of lying. Keeping a secret was one thing, by lying was another. So, one could imagine how she might feel uneasy while she currently sat in front of her boyfriend Nino with the intent to lie to his face.

A few days ago, an unfortunate turn of events took place. ShadowMoth had been keeping tabs on her it seemed. In all reality, Alya wouldn't be surprised if he had been keeping tabs on all the people, he knew to be miraculous holders. Nonetheless, he had taken a particular interest in her, and attempted to use her as a way of getting to Ladybug. With quick thinking, Alya was able to use her miraculous unnoticed to get out of the rather sticky situation she found herself in, but in doing so, she had to make a sacrifice.

Creating an illusion of Ladybug, Alya declared that she would no longer be given a miraculous, being that her identity had been exposed at it was no longer safe for her to use it. Alya had the intention to follow through with what her illusion had said, and give Marinette back the miraculous she had been given permanently. However, her friend had another idea, and thus Rena Furtive was born. Alya would continue to hold onto the Fox miraculous, but she would no longer be called upon to assist in dealing with Akumas. Instead, she would use her gift in the shadows, looking for signs of ShadowMoth and of Myura.

The unfortunate part of this plan, was that for it to work properly, everyone had to believe that she would never be Rena Rouge again. That, much to her dismay, included Nino. When their identities were exposed to one another by Ladybug all those months ago, the pair had been closer than ever. Sharing their secret had bonded them in a way that stood out against most other people they knew. After all, how many people did they know that were as secret superhero couple?

Alas, Marinette had expressed how vital it was that Nino was put under the impression that Alya was no longer Rena, which is why Alya currently found her stomach turning currently. Of course, in her nervousness, Nino quickly jumped to the conclusion that Alya was breaking up with him, a far worse assumption than the truth in her opinion. With that in mind, she quickly told the lie she had been holding on to. He had been relieved by her words, unsure as to why she would be so worried about telling him such a thing to begin with. Though happy Nino didn't bomb her with questions, Alya still couldn't help but have a bitter taste in her mouth due to her dishonesty. It was for the best. That was what she had to keep repeating in her head as Nino hugged her. It was for the best.

The part of this plan that made the lie even harder, was now she could no longer use helping Ladybug as an excuse as to why she couldn't hang out with Nino. It wasn't necessarily like she didn't spend any time with him, but a lot of that time was cut short, and now she had to give lame excuses as to why. She couldn't show him the cool new version of her suit that she had conjured up now due to her new role, nor could he explain why she sometimes had to cut date night short with anything other than needing to catch up on some homework. Alya hoped that Nino wouldn't take much note of it. However, he in fact did.

At first, he had brushed it off. The weird feeling he got when Alya told him she would no longer be Rena Rouge. He had been so afraid that she was breaking up with him that when she told him otherwise, he ignored how odd it was for her to seem nervous to tell him so. He thought, maybe, she thought finding out she could no longer take part in the superhero team would disappoint him somehow. Like he would perhaps blame her for ending up in a position that would get her miraculous taken away.

Soon, however, it seemed to be more than that. It felt like Alya was distancing herself from him. Very shortly after they started dating, and even more so once their identities were revealed to one another, he and Alya spent most of their free time together. Sure, they did their own separate things from time to time, but in general, where you found Nino, you found Alya, and vice versa. Nowadays, it felt like she kept finding ways to flake on him. If he was honest, it was really starting to mess with his mood.

That was why he was currently glaring at a movie screen showing a trailer for the new Ladybug and Chat Noir movie. Ladybug and Chat Noir 2: The arrival of Rena Rouge. Even though Rena did in fact join the team before Carapace, the time in between seemed short enough that they could have included his hero persona as a character. Though, in all honesty, perhaps it was the fantasy love triangle they were mixing in with Rena and Chat Noir that really bugged him about the whole thing.

As he complained about it, Alya laughed and told him to take it easy. That it was just a movie made for entertainment. Nino for one was not entertained by the idea of Rena and Chat Noir being romantically involved. Not even the fictional versions of them. It didn't help that Alya also seemed to be peeking at her phone periodically.

By the time the real movie they had gone to see ended, Nino was in a slightly better mood. Unfortunately, it didn't last. When he inquired about wanting to see whatever it was, she was showing Marinette on her phone earlier that day, Alya seemed to get nervous and claimed her phone was starting to die. If that wasn't bad enough, as they approached their next destination, Andre the ice cream man, suddenly Alya wasn't hungry and had homework to take care of, kissing him on the cheek and ran off before he could try and argue with her about it. Her having homework wasn't the issue, but usually, if that were the case, she would invite him back to her place so they could work on it together. Their homework didn't always line up, but she didn't even ask.

As Nino told Andre maybe next time, he noticed Chat Noir leaping from rooftop to rooftop overhead. His attention was brought back down by three children as they ran past him, all in hero get-ups. A ladybug, a Chat Noir, and a Rena Rouge. The boy dressed as Chat Noir held onto the girl who dressed as Rena Rouge's hand while the one dressed as Ladybug argued that Chat Noir loved Ladybug, not Rena.

"I don't care! I'm Chat Noir and all the girls love me!" the boy shouted, running off with his two friends. It shouldn't have bothered Nino, but it did.

At the Seine, Nino frowned as he opened his phone to watch the latest Ladyblog video, which just so happened to be dedicated to Chat Noir. Nino couldn't take it anymore. Alya was acting too suspiciously. His initial guess that she was no longer in love with him must have been right. She had just chickened out on telling him. Not wanting to hurt his feelings she must have been biding her time. And with this little segment on how wonderful Chat Noir was, Nino felt he knew just who Alya had set her sights on.

In his distress, Nino face-timed Adrien, sending him the video to look at. Adrien had laughed at the claim, finding Nino's accusation farfetched and for reasons only he would know, rather ridiculous. But there was no talking Nino down from this as he hung up the call only after claiming he would get the proof he needed.

In his room, Adrien drummed his fingers as he replayed what Nino had said in his head. "There's no way." He spoke aloud. Plagg, who of course heard the whole conversation while he munched away on his cheese across the room laughed.

"Oh, there's a way. Yes way! My natural charisma has probably just rubbed off on you." Though he didn't expect his words to be taken too seriously, Adrien seemed to ponder on the thought.

"You think I played the charming kitty cat one too many times and unintentionally made her fall in love with me?" He never expected that something like that would actually happen. Sure, he was a little flirty sometimes, but it was all in good fun. Even Ladybug knew that by now. Besides, he and Alya hardly interacted while he was Chat Noir with the exception of a save here and there or maybe a quick interview after an Akuma if he had some spare time. That didn't seem like it would be enough to get someone, let alone Alya to fall in love with him.

He thought about what Lucy might say in this situation. To assume makes an ass out of u and me. Yeah, that sounded about right. There was no other choice. He needed to talk with Alya. The sooner he could get to the bottom of this, the sooner he could convince Nino he had it all wrong.

OoOoOOo

Alya looked mildly alarmed when she spotted Chat Noir at her balcony window, immediately asking if everything was alright.

"No, no!" Chat explained. "Everything's fine! It's just that I saw you posted a new video about me. I'm super flattered, really, but it made me wonder: you've been following Ladybug and me from the very start. You take photos and videos, and we even saved you a couple times. What I mean is, we're starting to know each other pretty well and... it's made me notice a couple of small things. I hope I'm just under the illusion that there's something but uh..." He went on. Alya could feel herself panic slightly at his word choice. Had she slipped up? She thought she had been careful.

"Illusion...? What illusion? What small things?"

"It's kind of hard to explain," Chat said, feeling the awkwardness rear it head. "but I wanted to make sure that in all this time you've spent admiring me, you haven't built up some kind of uh... feelings for me. I mean, I get it, I am the Cat's Meow." He joked, trying to keep things light. Now Alya was even more confused.

"Huh, what feelings for you?"

"Well... you know..." He says while making a heart with his hands. Below them on ground level, Nino with impeccable timing, stood watching with his phone in hand.

Alya lets out a hardy laugh. "Are you insane?! I already have a boyfriend! And FYI, with him it's not just," She says making a small heart with her hands, "it's more like" She takes her arms and makes a giant heart-shaped movement.

Though embarrassed for even having to ask that question, Chat is more relieved than anything that Alya found it to be as ridiculous as he had.

"Sorry, that was so silly of me." He apologized, and the pair hugged to show no hard feelings.

"Sorry, Chat Noir, but my Nino is a thousand times more irresistible than you," Alya says, scratching his chin playfully. "Besides, I don't really know your real identity, and I could never fall for someone I didn't really know."

Below, unable to hear the words being exchanged between the two, Nino had recorded the interaction on his phone, running off after he felt he had seen enough. His heart breaking a little with each step he took.

Back on the balcony Alya couldn't help but notice Chat frown slightly at her words. She tilted her head as she looked at him curiously, not understanding what she might have said to upset him.

"I didn't mean to offend you." Alya offered, shaking Chat out of his thoughts. His smile returned, though perhaps not as genuine as the one he had worn only a moment prior.

"You didn't. You're right. It's foolish to think you could fall in love with someone you don't know. I'm glad we cleared this up. Have a good rest of your night Alya."

OoOoOoOoOo

The next day, Adrien wandered into the school in search of his friend, in hopes to convince him that he was wrong about everything he claimed the night before. However, when he found him, he was greeted by being dragged down into the boiler room. Nino, since Adrien had last saw him, had found himself a nifty looking old school detective's jacket and cap, really pulling it all together with a small fake mustache over his lip. He also managed to pull a desk down to the boiler room, turning the space into a small office like set up with a lamp light, a few books, a type writer of all things, and an old radio.

"Uh, when did you set all this up?" Adrien asked, both impressed but also concerned.

"I'm the one asking questions." Nino spoke. " Remember what I told you yesterday? I got proof now. What do you say to this?!" He takes out his phone and shows the video he recorded of Chat Noir and Alya on her balcony.

Adrien looks at it wide eyed. Taken off guard that Nino had actually been watching them from afar the whole time. Getting back to his senses, he turns down the radio that was currently playing smooth jazz.

"Come on, that doesn't make any sense. You're wrong, that's not at all what happened!"

"How do you know? You were there? You're in on it too?!" Nino accused, making Adrien shake his head and put up his hands defensively.

"No, no. Of course, not! But it's impossible! I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding. Alya and Chat Noir have nothing in common. They barely know each other! Alya is just a superhero fan she's been filming Ladybug and Chat Noir, that's all!" Adrien tried to reason.

"They know each other well enough!" Nino argued, making Adrien sigh.

"But no one knows Ladybug and Chat Noir's secret identities. Can you imagine her falling in love with someone she doesn't really know?" He asked, and for a moment, he had to remind himself about who they were talking about. "The girl who wants to be a reporter who always wants to know the truth, no matter what? Who wants to share everything with the boy she loves?" He tried to convince, but Nino only turned the jazz back on.

"They actually know each other much better than you think."

"You can't assume that from this video."

Nino bites the inside of his cheek before coming over and crouching in front of Adrien. He knows what he is about to do is risky. He knows that as far a secret identities go, he was definitely about to blow his. But he needed Adrien to understand. He knew how from an outside perspective he looked like he was reaching with his assumptions, but Adrien didn't know what he did. Nino needed Adrien on his side. And he couldn't be unless he knew the truth. Nino didn't know a lot of things, but he knew he could trust Adrien with his secret. He had to.

"Listen, here's what you don't know! I'm not talking about the video, dude. I'm talking about something I shouldn't be telling you. A mind-blowing secret. Alya is a superhero. She's Rena Rouge!"

Adrien blinked in surprise. "What?!"

"Shh," Nino hushes Adrien, while placing a finger to his lips. "I know what you're about to say: "That's nonsense and how would Nino know that anyway?" I know because... I'm a superhero too. I'm Carapace!"

Adrien was floored. His head hurt and all at once it felt like he was being dowsed with cold water. Like a fog that was kept over his eyes had been washed away and he could now see what was right in front of him.

"Huh? You're... Carapace? But... the two of you know?! You know each other's secret identities?!"

"Of course, Alya and I have never kept anything from each other. Until now, though that Chat Noir's business!"

"Wait a sec, I don't understand!" Adrien said, trying to wrap hi head around the information being given to him. "I thought that secret identities had to be protected at all costs. If it were true, you'd never just tell me like that. Ladybug would never agree to that!" He argued.

"Are you kidding? Ladybug is the one who gave us both our Miraculous at the same time." Adrien felt like he had been punched in the gut. His legs almost giving out from the blow of Nino's words. He couldn't believe it. Ladybug had done nothing but drill into his brain how important it was for their secret identities to remain just that, a secret. When had that changed? And why hadn't she told him about it?

"No... that's not right..." Adrien muttered, mostly to himself.

"What are you trying to say? That I'm lying or something!?" Nino accused, shaking Adrien away from his own aggravation and bringing him back to the problem at hand.

"No, no. What I meant was-" He took a breath, he couldn't have this argument with Nino. Not without giving himself away. He didn't understand what made it okay for Nino and Alya to share their identities and still have their miraculous, but he wasn't going to toss his away so easily. "Okay, you're Carapace, she's Rena Rouge and Ladybug's okay with this. But it still isn't like Alya or Chat Noir to be..." He rolls his hands suggestively. "You know...?"

"You don't know what Chat Noir really is but I do! I'm part of the team! I see how he acts in real life. Sure, as soon as Ladybug shows up, he throws himself at her feet with roses and cute little pet names but he gets blown off every time, because Ladybug thinks he's obnoxious, and she's right! And then whenever Rena Rouge shows up, it's like," He explains, giving Adrien a chin scratch, "Why, hello there, pretty lady, you look so fine! You smell so good!" So yeah, it's easy to figure out that the first mission I missed- I mean, Carapace missed, he made his move and, BAM! This is what happened." Nino argues, taking a seat in defeat. "Now, I'm all alone. I've lost the love of my life." His self-pity surges to rage as he grits his teeth. "If I could, I'd sew his sweet-talking mouth shut with his own whiskers!"

"There's got to be an explanation, Nino. We'll work it all out!" Adrien tried to convince him, but Nino shook his head angerily.

"Dude, how are you not on my side for this?! Did you forget that my girl isn't the only one Chat Noir thinks he can mess around with? Nobody knows the details, but Chat Noir definitely had a little something something going on with Lucy. In fact, I bet the reason things didn't work out is that she realized that mangy Chat doesn't know how to keep it in his pants! But I bet that doesn't stop him from popping in on her from time to time."

Adrien could feel his eye twitch at Nino's accusations. Jeez man, tell me how you really feel. "Nino, are you trying to tell me that you think Lucy would cheat on me with Chat Noir?"

Nino paused a moment, blinking before looking away with his arms crossed. "Nah, of course not man. But that doesn't mean that ally Cat wouldn't try! After all, he can be very 'Puursuasive.' Ugh, what a tool!"

"Okay," Adrien sighed, regaining his composure. He had to remind himself that his friend was confused and hurt right now, and was speaking mostly out of anger. "Nino, I don't know what the details are but-" His words were cut off as he watched an Akuma flutter by and land on Nino's glasses.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"And that's why he showed up in the middle of the night, because of this video I post on the Ladyblog. He thought I was in love with him." Alya laughs as she retells last night's events in their art class.

"Oh, that Chat Noir." Marinette mutters in disbelief.

"Whatcha' talkin' about ladies?" Lucy asks, taking a break from her painting to let it dry a bit and having a seat at their table.

"Chat Noir saw my video on the Ladyblog and felt the need to pay me a visit to make sure I didn't accidentally fall in love with him last night," Alya informed making Lucy's brows shoot up in amusement.

A huffy laugh left through her nostrils as she tried not to disturb the entire class with the hackle she wanted to let out.

"Something about that is very on point for him, I think." She grinned. "And how did you respond to that? Because it would have been an endless parade of sarcasm on my end. "Oh, sweet kitty, however, did you figure it out?" She played out. "You read me like a blind man reads a book."

The girls laughed and Alya shook her head. "I told him he was insane. Reminded him that I have a boyfriend who I love very much and even if I didn't, I don't know his identity and that I could never love someone I didn't know. It was fine, we laughed it off and he apologized for even having to ask."

Lucy's smile seemed to die down and Alya once again couldn't help but notice. Marinette, also noticing looked between Lucy and Alya.

"And then he looked kinda like that." Alya spoke, pointing to Lucy. Lucy blinked and brought her smile back. "Yeah, just like that! What is it, ouch-" Alya groaned and Marinette nudged her in the side with her elbow. "What?" Marinette made eyes at her, shifting them toward Lucy as if mentally trying to communicate to Alya to shut up. It wasn't until she did so that a lightbulb seemed to go off in Alya's head.

"Oh. Oh! Crap, I'm sorry Lucy, I forgot..." And she had. Lucy and Chat's short-lived relationship was something she never got the details on. For good reason, Lucy never really talked about it and due to it only existing for what felt like an instant to Alya, she had practically forgotten about it entirely. In all reality, she was pretty sure most people had. Something she was sure both parties were happy about.

"It's fine Alya. You're not wrong. It is pretty crazy to think you can love someone without knowing them."

"Lucy I-"

Alya was cut off by the sound of an explosion from outside of the school. The girls, along with the other handful of students in the room rushed over to the window to see what the commotion was about. In the street, Chat Noir was bobbing a weaving to avoid being hit by the akumatized villain going after him who seemed to be shoot...explosive tears? Aright, that's a new one.

The villain was dressed in a light blue body suit with black accents outlining tear shapes on his chest, shoulders, hand, knees, feet and hips, as well as his back. He seems to be wearing a tear shaped helmet with light blue tinted visor glasses.

"Chat Noir! You stole my Alya from me! I'm going to steal your life from you!" He shouts, shooting tears at Chat Noir. Chat dodges the attacks, the tears hitting a car nearby.

"I didn't steal anyone!" Chat argues, jumping to a lamp post. Alya still loves you!"

"LIAR! I have proof!"

From above Lucy scrunches her face. "Oh boy. That's no...and they're gone." She says, looking to the right of her to find Aly and Marinette no longer beside her. "How do people do that?" She asks herself.

"How does who do what?" Nathaniel asks from the other side of her. Lucy looks from him to the empty spot beside her and opens her mouth only to shut it again and shake her head.

"Nothing, never mind." She folds her arms on the windowsill and rests her chin on top of them watching the fight below. "I'm pretty sure Alya's gonna try and have a hallmark movie moment here. Nino!" Lucy spoke her voice lifting for dramatic effect. "Please don't do it! It's you I love!"

"You don't seem very concerned for Chat Noir." Nathaniel noted with a riased brow.

"Nah, he'll be alright." She answered casually, only to the watch Chat stand in front of Rocketear and toss his staff to the side in some sort of I come in peace stance. The villain, doesn't hesitate to then shoot Chat square in the chest, sending the hero flying till he smashes into the side of a van, "Or maybe he'll die. What the hell did he think that was gonna do?!"

Below, Rocketear prepared for his final blow when Ladybug's yo-yo wrapped around his writs, making him miss and hit a nearby building.

Lucy cringed. "Oh! I hope nobody was home."

"Nino, stop!" Ladybug calls from afar and holds up her Lucy Charm which happens to be a projector. "Look, my Lucky Charm gave me a super-advanced projector that will allow you to hear the sound of the video that you shot." Meanwhile, Rena Furtive is hiding behind a wall on the rooftops, waiting for her cue to activate her power. The plan for her to produce a sound illusion and repeat the conversation that took place between her and Chat the night before.

"I don't know what Chat Noir said to your girlfriend either, but I trust him. Now, look and listen carefully."

The video played and this time Rocketear could hear the words spoken between Alya and Chat. Regret filled his bones as he realized how off base, he was for what he had assumed. Welcome to the wonderful world of jealousy, he thought. For the price of admission, you get a splitting headache, a nearly irresistible urge to commit murder, and an inferiority complex. What an idiot he was.

After the video ended Rena jumped down from her place on the roof tops and detransformed, running down the street to Nino.

"I can't believe I ever doubted you." He spoke as Alya wrapped her arms around him.

"I can't believe I ever chose to do anything over spending time with you."

"I'm so sorry." He says mournfully, as Alya removes his glasses, wiping away his tears.

"I was so scared for you." She says, hugging him tightly. Rocketear hugs her back before glaring toward the sky.

"ShadowMoth! You can have your lame powers back!" He shouts, letting go of all his negative energy and releasing himself from the Akuma's grasp, severing the connection between him and ShadowMoth. Ladybug quickly snatched up the Akuma and purified it, throwing her Lucky Charm into the air, restoring all the damage that had been done.

She made her way down to Alya and Nino, using her yo-yo and reaching inside, pulling out a small charm and handing it to Nino. "Nino, take this magical charm. Always carry it with you. That way, ShadowMoth can't get to you, anymore."

Nino takes the charm but smiles. "I won't need to use it, Ladybug. He says, holding onto his girlfriend. "I'll never let ShadowMoth use my love to manipulate me again." He turns to Chat Noir. "I guess I was wrong about you, my dude. I'm sorry." He apologizes while tipping his hat.

"Everyone has doubts now and then, even me..." Chat says softly, earning a questioning look from Ladybug.

"Is everything okay, Chat Noir?" She asks. Chat swallows and offers her a small smile.

"Yeah, yeah." He says, holding up his fist. "Pound it!"

"Pound it."

OoOoOooOooO

At home Adrien still had mixed feelings about what he had learned that day in regard to Nino and Alya. Now that some time had passed, he supposed he wasn't as angry as he was initially, but he was definitely hurt. Ladybug had always been the number one spokesperson on identities needing to remain a secret. And for good reason. But what bothered him even more than Nino and Alya knowing each other's identities, was that he didn't know about it. At any point Ladybug could have let him in on it. He didn't need to know who Rena and Carapace were, he just should have known that they knew who they were.

Adrien wanted to believe there was a reason behind her choice to let them continue using their miraculous even after their identities had been exposed, but her hiding it from him made him feel...Adrien sighed.

"I just don't get it Plagg. I thought we were supposed to keep our identities a secret. How can she just change the rules like that?

"She's the Guardian." Plagg said casually, biting into some cheese.

"But they're a couple and they know each other's secret identities.

"So...?"

"Are you serious right now? Did we not have a whole conversation where you told me it was a bad idea for us to share our identities with people? Was that a fever dream?"

"No," Plagg answered. "I wouldn't recommend it."

"Then why-?"

"I don't knooow." Plagg said with an eyeroll. "Do I look like Ladybug? Why would I have any idea why she does anything? She's the Guardian, the Grandmaster Cheese Ripener, and you and I are just cheese on the platter. She decides what's on the menu."

"Well, that's not fair." Adrien huffed, making Plagg narrow his eyes in annoyance.

"You know what your problem is kid? You want everything to be fair. You see the world in black and white, right and wrong, but most things aren't like that. Almost everything in life has a gray area."

"So, what am I supposed to do? Just pretend I don't know and don't care?"

"I don't care what you do! Get over it! Don't get over it! All I know is you're hissing up the wrong tree. The only one who knows why Ladybug does whatever Ladybug does is Ladybug. So, take it up with her if it's got your tail in such a twist."

Adrien paused. "You're right Plagg."

"Of course, I am," he answered eating another piece of cheese. "Right about what?"

"I gotta take it up with Ladybug." Plagg raised his brows, floating over to his owner.

"Questioning the decisions of the guardian? Bold. Alright, I'm in! We ride at dawn!"

"No, Plagg." Adrien said flatly.

"You're right, that's way too early for me."

"We ride in a few hours, when we are supposed to meet Ladybug for patrol this evening." He clarified.

Plagg let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine."

OoOoOooOoOoOo

When the sun finally set and the moon rose overhead, Chat Noir set out to meet Ladybug at their rendezvous spot. He arrived early, which wasn't entirely out of character for him as he was usually pretty anxious to get out of his house for a while. While he waited, he tried to go over in his head how he wanted to word his feelings. He was angry and hurt, and somehow those two emotions were always the hardest ones for him to express. A part of him argued that at the end of the day, she wasn't required to explain her choices to him. But he didn't want her to see it as a requirement at all, so much as a courtesy. He knew he couldn't just ignore it though. It would do him no good. There's no "should" or "should not" when it comes to having feelings. They're part of who we are and their origins are beyond our control. When we can believe that, we may find it easier to make constructive choices about what to do with those feelings.

"Hey Kitty," Ladybug greeted, landing swiftly on the roof top. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Are you ready to go?"

"Actually, first I need to talk to you about something Ladybug."

Ladybug paused, looking at Chat with a bit of surprise in her eyes. She wasn't sure what it was he wanted to talk about, but she knew it was serious. He only ever really addressed her as Ladybug when it was.

"Alright, what's up?"

Chat swallowed. "It's about Rena and Carapace."

Ladybug could feel herself tense. "What about them?"

"It's come to my attention that they know each other's identities."

"Uh..what..how...who told you that?!" She exclaimed. Chat crossed his arms, frowning at her.

"Am I wrong?" He asked. Openly giving her the option to try and lie to him. Fortunately, Ladybug didn't take the bait, and instead slumps her shoulders.

"No, you're not wrong." She confessed

"You wanna fill me in on why you didn't think to fill me in on that?" Chat asked, a sharpness in his tone.

Ladybug licked her lips and look to the ground, placing her hands on her hips. "I didn't seem like something that really needed to be shared."

"Didn't need to be shared?!" Chat repeated. "All you have ever done is tell me over and over again that our identities need to be a secret and now you go around and change that rule and you don't think it should be shared?" He argued. "I'm your partner Ladybug! And you didn't to give me a heads up?"

Taking in a deep breath, Ladybug exhaled and looked at Chat, "Chat, I'm sorry that you're taking this so personally, but it isn't. I gave Rena and Carapace their miraculous together because at the time I had no other choice but to do so. I had no idea if I was going to give them a miraculous again after that, but I did, and I decided to just let it play out. Give it a chance and so far, yeah, it's worked out alright for them. And I didn't tell you because I figured the less people that knew about it the better. Alright?"

Chat didn't say anything, instead opting to kick a loose piece of gravel on the roof and head for its edge, taking a seat there. Ladybug frowned and followed him, taking a seat beside her partner.

"Chat, are you mad because I didn't tell you about Rena and Carapace or are you mad about Rena and Carapace knowing each other's identities?"

Chat shrugged. "Both at first. But mostly that you hid it from me. I guess, I don't really mind that Rena and Carapace know about each other." He admitted. Ladybug didn't speak as she watched Chat fiddle with his ring.

"ShadowMoth wants our miraculous more than any other. He is a danger if he gets his hands on any of the others but whatever his big plan is revolves around ours. That's why it's more important for us to keep our identities a secret than any others. I know that. It's what makes me jealous of them."

Ladybug frowned at Chat's words, her eyes shifting from his hands to his face. He kept his own eyes on the horizon, watching the twinkling lights of the city,

"They get to share this...amazingly wonderful burden together."

"I don't know if I made the right choice." She admits. "I don't know if I'm making any of the right choices."

"M'lady, trust is a two-way street. The only way I can trust your choices is if I know what they are. I may not always understand the choices you make, but I'll always trust them."

"Alright." Ladybug spoke softly. "I'm sorry Kitty."

"Just promise me the next time you make a big guardian-level decision that you'll keep me in the loop, okay?"

"I..." She spoke, only to pause a moment. "Promise..." Chat watched her cautiously as Ladybug seemed to stare off for a moment. Her hands began to fidget with themselves as she bit her lip.

"Is everything alright M'lady?"

She swallowed and looked up at Chat who began to grow concerned as he saw the distraught look on her face.

"Chat I have to tell you something because I promised to be more upfront with you. But in turn, I need you to promise not to be terribly upset with me."

Chat's brows knitted together. "I'm concerned, but alright. What is it?"

"I shared my identity with someone."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Lucy sat at her desk, her laptop in her lap, typing away her literature essay when Chat Noir forced himself through her window with a force so strong, she was afraid he might break it off of its hinges. He stumbled a little, before regaining his balance and composure and making his way over to Lucy. Without so much as a word he closed her laptop and took it from her lap, placing it on the desk so that it would no longer hold her attention. She watched as he then stood in front of her, with his hands on his hips, tapping his foot while staring down at her with pursed lips.

Lucy raised an eyebrow at him. "My abilities as an empath are telling me something is bothering you." She spoke, leaning back and folding her hands over her stomach.

Chat's own eyebrows shot up as he shook his head. "Hm? Bothering me? Nah, no way. Not me. I'm carefree Chat Noir, nothing bothers me." He spoke in a mocking tone, making Lucy narrow her eyes at him.

"Okay, honey, I really don't have the energy for whatever this little shtick you're doing, so how about we cut to the chase and you just tell me what's wrong?"

"I don't know if you're ready." Chat said with a shrug.

Lucy gave a scoff like laugh through her nose. "Ready for what?"

"This hot tea that I am about to serve," he answered. This perked Lucy's interest.

"Tea, you say? As in superhero tea?"

"Superhero tea," Chat confirmed. "And its piping."

A look of surprise danced across Lucy's features. "Am I even allowed to know said superhero tea?"

Biting the inside of his cheek Chat let off another shrug. "Maybe, maybe not, but I'm making the executive decision to tell you anyway."

"Oh. Okay. Well, one more question before we start then. Clearly whatever this information is, it is bothering you so what do you need from me?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you want me to be a voice of reason and help you process or are you just looking for someone to vent to and share your anger."

Chat paused as he thought about it for a moment, looking to the ground at nothing in particular and then back up at Lucy.

"I think, I will be plenty reasonable about it soon enough, right now I just need you to be mad with me."

"Okay." Lucy said with a nod. "I have no idea what has happened, but I'm furious. Lay it on me."

Clearing his throat, Chat began. "Well, you know Rena Rouge and Carapace."

"I know of them, yes."

"Their dating." Lucy blinked and then squinted at the Cat like hero.

"How dare they." Chat rolled his eyes.

"That's not...I was pausing for dramatic effect."

"Oh," Lucy let out a sigh of relief. "Good, I was a little worried that was it. Sorry, carry on.

"They're dating, and they know each other's secret identities."

"Oh!"

"Mhm." Chat hummed.

"That's something. Does Ladybug know? If she doesn't, when she does, she's gonna have a field day."

"Ah, well, that's the great thing about it." Chat spat. "She does know! She gave them their miraculous at the same time!"

"You don't say?" Lucy said, crossing her arms and poking the inside of her cheek with her tongue. "How long has that been a thing?"

"A few months. But I just found out about it today."

"Alright, I get why that might grind your gears a bit."

"It gets worse."

Lucy gave another sigh, this time causing her lips to flutter, letting off horse-like sound. "I don't know if I can handle much more."

"Ladybug shared her identity." To that, Lucy's feet fell from their place on her desk. Her eyes went wide as she leaned forward, slapping her hands on top of her thighs.

"I'm sorry WHAT?"

"You heard me."

"She shared her identity? With you?" Chat gave a sarcastic laugh.

"You would think, if Ladybug was going to trust anyone with her secret identity it would be me, right?" He said, pointing to himself. "Well, turns out you'd be wrong. No, she did not share it with me, she shared it with someone else."

"Who?"

"I don't know." He breathed. "Probably best that way."

"Wow." Lucy rasped. "That's a lot to take in."

"Yeah..."

"What a bitch. I'll fight her."

Chat couldn't help the laugh that escaped him at Lucy's words.

"Maybe reel back your rage a little there Rambo."

"Too much? Okay, um, That...inconsiderate...bug girl. I'll …. I'm very disappointed in her."

"Little better." Chat said with a grin, though it didn't really last.

"So, what did you do? When she told you all this?"

OoOoOo

"You wanna run that by me one more time?!" He spoke. Clearly, he had to have misheard her.

"I shared my identity with someone." She repeated meekly.

"You..wha...with who?!"

Ladybug crossed her arms and couldn't fight the eyeroll.

"You know I can't tell you that."

"Just another thing to add to the list, right?" Chat scoffed, getting up from his spot on the ledge.

"Don't do that!" Ladybug scolded, getting up as well, and wrapping her arms around herself. "I'm sorry! I never planned it. I just couldn't do it anymore! Being Ladybug and the guardian, and keeping up with my personal life! I couldn't hold the weight of it all anymore!" She cried. "It just got heavier and heavier, until I was just... suffocating!"

Most people admire strength. It's something we tend to respect in others, desire for ourselves, and wish for our children. Sometimes, though, we confuse strength with other definitions. Real strength is neither male nor female; but it is, quite simply, one of the finest characteristics that a human being can possess. Confronting our feelings and giving them appropriate expression always takes strength, not weakness. It takes strength to acknowledge our anger, and sometimes more strength yet to curb the aggressive urges anger may bring and to channel them into nonviolent outlets. It takes strength to face our sadness and to grieve and to let our grief and our anger flow in tears when they need to. It takes strength to talk about our feelings and to reach out for help and comfort when we need it.

Chat looked at Ladybug, who kept her eyes strained downward, her hands using her arms like some kind of stress ball, squeezing and releasing. He wasn't used to it. Seeing her so...vulnerable. It was rare when he did. Little by little we human beings are confronted with situations that give us more and more clues that we aren't perfect.

Some days, doing "the best we can" may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect—on any front—and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else. All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That's one of the things that connects us as people in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.

"You're not the only one struggling, you know?" Chat spoke softly. Ladybug lifted her eyes to meet his. She expected them to hold anger, or even resentment, instead, all she saw was understanding.

"Nothing about this is easy, Ladybug. And I'm so sorry that the weight of it all had you pinned down. And I'm so sorry that even though I am probably the one person that would understand the most, that I'm also the one person you can't talk to about it. Because if you did you might give yourself away."

Ladybug inhaled sharply, trying to blink away the tears the urged to fall from her eyes as her partner managed to take what should have been rage towards her and turn it into sympathy.

"But it's not fair of you to hide that from me. I might not have all the same responsibilities as you M'lady but I promise you I have my own burdens to bare."

OoOo

Lucy, by this point, had brought her knees to her chest, resting her chin on top of them.

"I'm gonna be really honest with you, I'm a lot less angry and a lot sadder." She informed Chat Noir, who rubbed the back of his neck with a small nod.

"Yeah, me too."

OoOo

"You're right." Ladybug agreed. "I have a real bad habit of getting so caught up in my own problems that I tend to forget everybody's got them. Chat, I know that I tend to hide a lot of things from you; but you are one of the people I trust most in this world, and I'm sorry that I haven't been making that apparent lately."

Chat nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating the sentiment of her words. Ladybug took in another deep breath, letting it out slowly before she spoke again.

"With that being said, if you really want to tell someone your secret identity...well, it would make me a hypocrite to try and stop you."

Chat's eyes widen slightly, somewhat surprised that Ladybug would openly give her approval for him to reveal himself to someone.

"Now, I know who it is you might want to tell, but it needs to be somebody else."

"There is no one else." Chat responded without missing a beat.

"Kitty, you don't know who I told my secret to, and I can't know who you tell yours to either. That's the whole point. There has to be someone-" Ladybug closed her eyes and rubbed her face with her hands. "You know what...do what you think is best."

"What I think is best?'

"Chat I could stand here and tell you what I think you should do all night but I can't...not for this." Ladybug answered quietly. "Just...don't tell me about it. I don't want to know if you share it, I don't want to know if you don't. I need to trust that you can make the right call without worrying about how I might feel about it. But please..." she pleaded. "Please remember that there are consequences to sharing your secret. The person I told; they have already been targeted once. We worked it out, but I worry every day if telling them was a good idea or not."

"You don't need to tell me about the risks Ladybug, I already know them. It's how I have kept my secret for as long as I have."

"Then I know you won't take the decision lightly, and that I can trust any choice you make. Wherever you make your stand, I will stand by you."

"I appreciate that M'lady. More than you will ever know." He said, stepping toward her, holding out his fist to hers. "Pound it."

With a small smile. She did.

OoOoOoO

"Aww, a happy parting. Look at you, you had me all riled up and for what?"

"This day has been somewhat of an emotional roller coaster and I kind of just needed you to ride it with me." Chat admitted, walking over to Lucy's bed and falling onto it with a thud. Lucy got up from her chair and joined him on the bed, laying close enough that their shoulders kissed.

"So, you want to share your identity?" She asked.

"I'm considering it." Chat answered with a small smirk.

"With who?" The smirk on Chat Noir's face dissolved at that question as she snapped his head to the side to look at her.

"Are you serious?"

"What? You don't have to give me a name!"

"It's you Lucy! I want to tell you!" Lucy turned her body so that she was laying on her side, propping her head up with her elbow.

"Me!? Really!?" She asked with an aw face.

"Who else would I tell?" Chat asked in utter disbelief.

"How should I know!? I don't know your life outside of," She made a hand motion over his body. "This! Maybe you would want to tell your best friend, or your dad!"

"My dad?! That would be a terrible idea on my end. No, no, no. No way. And as for the best friend, you are my best friend!"

Lucy tsked. "Stop."

"You are," Chat assured. "Well, one of them. I do have one other best friend but-" He shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Lucy, hear me when I say, there is no one I want to tell more than you."

"But...?"

"But I'm scared." He admitted quietly. "My secret has always been this wedge between us. It is this thing that has defined our relationship. If I show you who I am, it will change everything between us. And I'm not sure I'm ready to face that change. I'm sorry," He then apologized. "It must be a little disappointing hearing me say I want to tell you who I am but then blabbering about my doubts.

"Chat..." Lucy whispered, taking her hand and brushing his hair from his face, resting it on his cheek. "I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times. A secret identity is a delicate thing. And I have no ill thoughts toward you for being careful with it. Regardless of if you share your identity with me or not, I will be right here. Whichever way you want it. Because I know exactly who you are. Taking off your mask won't change that."

Chat Noir, as he looked at her, was pretty sure there was never a single point in time where he had wanted to kiss Lucy more than he did in that moment. But as he let his heart attempt to fulfill its desire, Lucy's hand moved from his face to his chest, stopping him.

"Chat..." He closed his eyes and let himself fall back onto the mattress.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"Chat I feel I should inform you, in case it weighs on your choice at all, that I am in fact seeing someone right now."

Chat internally scolded himself. Stupid. Stupid. "Adrien, right."

Lucy blinked. "How...did you know that?"

Stupid fucking idiot!

"Because...I...keep tabs on you." He admitted with a cringe.

"You...Wha...? Why? Why would you do that?"

Chat pursed his lips as he tried to think of any excuse that would work in his favor, only to come up with nothing.

"Because...uh...I'm just...creepy, I guess. Creepy Chat Noir."

Lucy snorted and bonked her head against his shoulder. "Creepy Chat Noir." She muttered. "Stop it."

Chat couldn't help the somewhat selfish question that came out next.

"Do you love him?"

"I think I could." She answered softly, tracing the details of his suit.

"What if I was him?" Chat mentally cursed himself for asking such a bold question. But he couldn't stop himself from desperately wanting to know the answer.

"What if you were who? Adrien?" Lucy asked.

"Mhm." She grinned before letting out a low chuckle.

"I certainly hope not." Chat wasn't sure what he expected Lucy's answer to be, but it had not been that.

"Why not?" He asked. "Previous love, torn away due to secret identity circumstances, turns out to be your most recent love. Sounds pretty convenient to me."

Lucy laughed again before answering. "I mean, sure in that one specific aspect it might be, but there are some other variables that would really make the whole thing a little awkward."

"Like what?" Chat asked, genuinely confused.

"I don't know," Lucy said with a shrug. "Maybe because my friend Marinette had this huge crush on him for who knows how long. And if you were Adrien that would meanwhile I was trying to help her find ways to tell you how she felt, I at some point was simultaneously making out with you unknowingly."

Chat blinked. "Are you talking about Marinette Dupain-Cheng?"

"That's the one." Chat felt himself tense at the clarification as heat rushed to his cheeks. What was he supposed to do with that?

"But she doesn't have feelings for him anymore, right? Since you are dating him?" Lucy shifted, lifting her hand and waving it in a loose manner.

"It's...complicated. He was her first love, even if he didn't know it. You can't just snap your fingers and get over that. But she is definitely working on it. In all reality, she is the reason me and Adrien even got together in the first place. If it hadn't been for her, I probably would have never entertained the idea of Adrien even being remotely interested in me romantically."

"You have got to be kidding me." He said skeptically.

"I'm not," Lucy laughed. "Dating Adrien Agreste was never something I could have predicted happening."

Chat didn't know what to do with that either. "She's just not used to a guy like you."

"Not really the type you go for, huh?"

"I suppose not." Lucy said thoughtfully, a small smile on her face. "It's different. But I don't mind the change."

To that, Chat smiled too. "Well, he's no Chat Noir, but if he makes you happy then that's all that matters, right?"

"It is." Lucy confirmed. "You know, since you mentioned it, I figure I can tell you, there was a point in time where I thought perhaps you and he might be the same person."

He did of course know that. The confused looks she would give him every time his miraculous worked its magic to make her forget such a notion was something that would be etched in his mind for days to come. It bothered him less that Lucy might figure it out and more that she couldn't. Because he wanted her to know.

Chat had made his personality different from the way he was as Adrien on purpose, in a sense. He did it to let loose from his normal reserved behavior of course, but he also did it because he knew that forwarding two very different personalities would help keep his secret. However, he had played the two separate characters for so long, that sometimes, it felt like he wasn't sure which version of him was the real one.

Although he didn't like Lucy having her mind messed with, there was always the smallest amount of adoration and pride when she did. Because it meant that she could connect the two. Even if he couldn't. It was with that in mind that made Chat indulge the conversation further. He wanted to hear Lucy tell him all the ways his personas reminded her of each other.

"Is that so?" He asked. "I'm surprised, we are pretty different people."

"You are in a lot of ways very different, but you also share a lot of things too."

"Like what?" He inquired. "Do tell how I, the amazing Chat Noir falls in beat with slightly less amazing Adrien Agreste."

Lucy snorted. "Well, he's definitely less of an A-hole than you are that's for sure."

"Maybe, but we are talking about similarities, not differences."

"Right, right, of course," Lucy said, letting out a sigh. "Let's see...you both, typically, are very kind, and braver than I think either of you gets credit for. You both seem to enjoy Anime-"

"Well, who doesn't like Anime?"

"Communists." She answered without missing a beat. "You both also seem to enjoy science and history, a trait we also share." She pointed. "You are also both very funny, more so when you're not trying to be."

"I am funny all of the time."

"You see, now that was funny." Chat rolled his eyes playfully and scoffed.

"You also, share a sadness." Lucy spoke gently, making Chat look at her. Her eyes stayed focused on the ceiling above her. "It's a self-doubt kind of sadness. Worrying if you meet the expectations of those around you. His father, his friends, and you with your partnership with Ladybug, and your place as a hero of Paris." She explains. "It's this weight you both seem to carry. I'm not sure where it stems from or how it started but it breaks my heart a little to think that neither of you sees how truly wonderful you are in your own ways."

Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now. Whether we're a preschooler or a young teen, a graduating college senior or a retired person, we human beings all want to know that we're acceptable, that our being alive somehow makes a difference in the lives of others. Deep within us, no matter who we are, there lives a feeling of wanting to be lovable, of wanting to be the kind of person that others like to be with. And the greatest thing we can do is to let people know that they are loved and capable of loving.

"And you both have this amazing ability to make me feel..." She trailed off, trying to find the words that fit just right while Chat waited anxiously to hear them.

"Home, I suppose." She finally answered. "Safe, secure, loved...just...home."

As Chat's heart swelled in a way that made him feel like it might burst out of him completely, he smiled as and attempted to lighten, what had become such a heavy conversation.

"So, what you're saying is you'd still love me if I was Adrien Agreste? Or I suppose, would you still love Adrien if he was me?" He grinned and Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Of course, I would still- gah! What am I going to do with you?" She huffed, sitting up and crossing her arms. Peeking from over her shoulder, Lucy looked at her hero friend who now lay with his hands behind his head and his eyes closed, looking ever so content.

"So you really want to tell me your identity?" She asked, making him open his eyes and look over at her.

"I do." He answered gently. "But you're right, and so is Ladybug. If and when I tell you...changes will occur, consequences even. I have to know that I am ready to handle that."

Lucy laid back on her side and looked at him with a frown. Not because she was upset with his answer, but because she could so clearly see the inner conflict he was having with himself reflecting in his eyes.

"Lucy, if anything ever happened to you because of my secret I would never forgive myself." He admitted. "I just want you to know, that I want you to know. And I can only hope that when the time comes..."

"I'll be right here waiting Chat. Whenever you're ready." She confirmed, giving his hand a squeeze.

When Chat finally left Lucy's apartment, he felt much lighter than he had when he arrived. He was sure that his desire to tell Lucy wasn't one that would go in vain. But, that didn't mean he wasn't still worried about the potential dangers that could come with her knowing his secret. He was worried that he might hurt Lucy when he explained his hesitance to tell her, but of course, like most things he worried about in regard to Lucy, it seemed he was overthinking it all. She loved him. Deeply cared for both versions of him rather she knew they were the same or not. Love is like infinity. You can't have more or less infinity, and you can't compare two things to see if they're "equally infinite." Infinity just is, and that's the way Chat thinks love is, too.

I know, I know. You really thought this was gonna be the reveal chapter at some point, didn't you? But we don't want it all to unfold TOO quickly do we? Nah, of course not. After all you waited 65 chapters just for Adrien and Lucy to finally get together so what's a little more for this. I also wanted to add Chat and his conversation witch Ladybug because it felt like one they needed to have even though they never do in the show. He never asks why she let them keep their miraculous and she never tells him that someone knows hers and I feel like those were important things for them to talk about.

You know what's fun. Looking at my phone and seeing a Wattpad notification at 166. Why? Because someone is going and reading the story and commenting multiple times through the chapter. It's so great, and that is not sarcasm. It's the kind of commenting I like to see! But only a few people really do that. None the less, I will take what I can get.

Anyway! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a happy New Year! Remember to comment and vote I love hearing what you think rather it be one comment at the end or multiple throughout. Knowing you're enjoying it is what motivates me to push out chapters faster if I can.

Chow for now, and as always, I will see you in the next chapter!