"You're not surprised," Adrien immediately stated when Ladybug stood unmoved at the corner with a grim expression "Is there something that you would like to confess?"

"I knew it, Adrien," she sighed glumly, making the blond stopped on his tracks "I knew you were a magus all along."

"How?"

"We're friends since we were kids," the heroine chuckled dryly, tugging the ends of her pigtail out of frustrations "I've been into your room for several times and accessed your toiletries without you banning me. You weren't subtle whenever you apply your suppressors."

"You've seen me?" he asked, staring at the squirming heroine with disbelief "And you didn't ask me about it?"

"You didn't tell me either!" she revolted angrily, which shocked them both. Then she mellowed her tone "You're one of my best friends, and I respect your wish to keep it a secret."

"Did you tell anyone about it?"

Ladybug shook her head.

"I see," his body wobbled then slumped limply on the wall, and with his crestfallen face he asked, "Is this the reason why you didn't tell me about your condition?"

"I don't want you to pity me," was her coolly reply "And if someone discovered my condition, I don't want to lead them to you."

"I will never pity you," he growled with a furious glare "And I know how to protect myself."

"You don't know how the real world works!" she quipped hotly, with her spandex covered hands balled into fists "You might be rich and influential, but Papillion doesn't care about it! He's a ruthless, coldhearted and powerful sorcerer! He will kill you and your loved ones mercilessly in a blink of an eye!"

He was about to talk back until a realization dawned on him "Who's protecting you, Ladybug?"

When the masked heroine faltered at his sudden question, he asked again "Who's there to support and comfort you when things go wrong? Who helps you in defeating the monsters?"

"I have my Kwami and some fellow Miraculous holders as a back-up," she answered while averting her eyes away from his inquisitive ones "But most of the time, I do solo."

Ladybug jerked a bit in surprise when Adrien stood up then patted his jeans to remove the dust "I guess that resolves my decision."

"Decision on what?"

He looked at her with a smile "On joining the Order the Miraculous."

All of the blood drained out from Ladybug's face at his declaration.

"No!" she exclaimed in horror as she marched towards him then grasped his shoulder "You can't, Adrien!"

"Why not?"

Ladybug gasped incredulously "Are you insane?! Joining the Miraculous means putting yourself in danger!"

His brows furrowed "Then what does that implies to you?"

"Adrien, I joined the Miraculous because I need money for Papa's medication!" she snapped testily "Besides, suppressors won't work for me!"

"Suppressors won't work for me either."

"What do you mean?"

"Marinette," she winced when he uttered her real name "Ladybug, I'm also bearing an ancient magus blood."

The masked heroine dropped her hands on her side then stepped back "No, that can't be true. You're lying."

"I'm not. I've been overdosing myself with suppressors for years to stop my magical leaks, but my power grows stronger to the point that I can destroy anything without me knowing," he explained despondently "I don't want to reach on that point wherein I can harm those people around me."

"So...about my glamour..."

He nodded "I didn't know how I broke it, or have an idea on how I dispelled the Cataclysm."

"There must be some solutions other than joining us, Adrien," she bemoaned "You're going to lose everything!"

"But you are my everything."

She tried not to blush on that bold statement "How about your father? Or Alya and Nino? You can't simply leave them."

"My father will say no regardless of my reason," the blond shrugged nonchalantly "And as for Alya and Nino, they will understand why I left without saying anything. They will likely assume that I have found you."

"This is not something romantic, Adrien. You will live your life fighting Akumas and criminal minds. You'll get hurt not only physically but emotionally. You'll see dead people, and witness them how they were killed. Your friends might die one day; you will die one day, and I - "

"I'm going to make sure that you'll survive in this endeavor," he stepped in front of her, cupping her face gently so her eyes could see his "I'm not going to let you on this fight alone. We're going to face Akumas together as a unit."

"We can't go to dates, or watch movies in public," she murmured despondently "We can't do what normal couples do, or anything that you want to do, or to have, for a girlfriend."

"What are you talking about?" Adrien snorted, wrapping his arms around the masked heroine who squeaked at his action "I'm happy as long as you're here beside me."