What's this? A one-shot that involves the second half of season five? Never thought I would see the day. -Colorado

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The tower had always been important to him. Before he was Chat Noir, Adrien would stare out his window at the tower and imagine how it would be to climb it. The second day he had his ring, it was at the base of the tower where he fell in love for the first time. It was the place where he and Ladybug had defeated akuma after akuma. It was a beacon of light to everyone who came near. Including him. So while he had other rooftops that he had a special attachment to, he ended up at the Eiffel Tower. At least no one could see him if he broke down here.

It had all been too much, recently. Chat Noir just felt lost. The end of the school year was approaching, and he still had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He knew he could keep working for his dad, but his actions towards him and Marinette were hostile. He didn't think he could keep letting his father control him if Gabriel wasn't going to welcome Marinette. He wasn't even sure what his problem with her was, she was smart, she was talented, and she was the kindest person he knew. But for some reason, his father kept trying to force him towards Kagami. Who was apparently having something with his cousin, so it seemed like neither of them were happy about the situation.

And then there was Marinette. His precious Marinette who he loved with all of his heart, who was still there for him despite his father's disapproval. Marinette who had promised him that she was always going to be there for him, no matter what his father tries.

A goofy grin came over his face as he thought about the girl he loved so much. He still couldn't believe how lucky he was. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was in love with him! They hadn't been dating for very long, but every moment felt like a dream. She was finally able to tell him that she loved him, and he couldn't be more proud of her. Asking her out was the best decision of his entire life.

"Chat? I didn't think it was your night to patrol," a voice said behind him. He turned to see Ladybug looking at him curiously.

"It's not," he said simply. "I just needed to get some air."

"Oh, I can understand the feeling," she commiserated, coming over to stand next to him. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"There's really nothing I can tell you, Bug. It gets into some very personal information." He shot her a wry grin. He was surprised to see Ladybug's torn expression. She had always been so adamant when it came to their identities, why was it any different now?

"Argos gets to have his identity revealed to the world with no consequences," Ladybug muttered, her eyes trained on the skyline.

"Argos also snapped the entirety of Paris out of existence," Chat reminded her. "I don't think he's a villain, but he's no hero."

"I still can't trust him, he was so desperate to get his hands on the peacock miraculous for what?" Ladybug spit out.

"I don't know, I really don't, but he doesn't seem to be all that bad," Chat said gently. His cousin had messed up, and Adrien certainly didn't trust him. But he had brought all of those people back, that had to count for something, right?

"Maybe not, but it's still not fair," Ladybug grumbled. "I have all these secrets to keep from everyone, and meanwhile he gets to run around all willy nilly."

"I know," he whispered, fidgeting with his ring. He had thought about telling Marinette, but Plagg had always talked him down from it. It didn't seem right, keeping such a momentous secret from the girl he loved. "Have you thought about telling your boyfriend that you're Ladybug?" Chat asked after a moment. Ladybug tensed, then relaxed.

"I have. Pretty much every day since he told me he loved me. But Tikki has made it perfectly clear: I cannot reveal my identity to him under any circumstances. She says it's too dangerous. Hell, it's a miracle I'm even dating him. That was originally too dangerous, too," she chuckled, but there was no humor in her voice.

"It's weird that Tikki is so against it. After all, you have that other friend who knows your identity, right?" Chat Noir ignored the sting that happened every time he thought about the fact that someone knew her identity. He wasn't mad at her, he could never be mad at her, but it still hurt.

"That's what I'm saying!" Ladybug threw her hands up, utterly exasperated. "She has no issue with Al- my friend knowing, but the moment I mention that maybe I should tell my boyfriend she says it's too dangerous. I just don't see why the rule only applies to him. It's not like the two of us. If we were to know each other's identities, it's too dangerous because we're at risk of falling into Hawkmoth's control at all times. But him? He's just a regular civilian!" Angry Ladybug was a scary sight to see, even if her anger wasn't directed towards him. But she had a point, Plagg was so against him telling Marinette. It was kind of weird, seeing him getting so worked up about something that wasn't cheese.

"Plagg too. I've talked about revealing my identity to my girlfriend. I haven't told anyone else, yet. Just Viperion who somehow figured it out."

"You know about that?" Ladybug whispered, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Well yeah, he told me during the Gold Record attack that he was Viperion and that he knew my identity," Chat quickly explained. No need to out himself as Adrien. If Plagg was so against him telling Marinette, he had no idea what his reaction would be to Ladybug figuring him out. Ladybug relaxed, nodding her head. She seemed satisfied with that conclusion.

"But Plagg doesn't want you revealing your identity to your girlfriend?" she prompted.

"No! And it's so weird because it's like, the one thing he's adamant on other than his love for cheese. I just wish he would explain why the rules are different for her than anyone else," Chat Noir sighed. "He acts like she's you." The words were out of his mouth before he really heard them or their implications. But it was the truth, even if the idea that Ladybug and Marinette being the same person made his heart want to beat right out of his chest.

'She can't be, Multimouse, remember?' he chided himself. It was just a stupid fantasy that he shouldn't indulge in. It wasn't fair to either of them.

"Tikki too," Ladybug laughed. "Wouldn't that be something, me dating Chat Noir?" she snorted and Chat couldn't help but feel a little indignant.

"I'll have you know my girlfriend is perfectly happy dating Chat Noir, even if she doesn't know it's me yet," Chat stuck his tongue out at Ladybug. He had originally been worried that Marinette would break up with him the moment she knew his identity. Then he remembered the night before they got together, how they had kissed, and the worry was gone from his mind. Ladybug stopped laughing, her face turning a bit softer.

"I know. She's a lucky girl to have you. It would just be funny if you turned out to be my boyfriend," she said, nudging his shoulder.

"It'd be funny if you turned out to be my girlfriend, too. But I saw the two of you right next to each other, so I know you two aren't the same person. Which means I'm not your boyfriend either, Bugaboo." He tapped her nose with one of his claws, giving her an award-winning grin. Ladybug only rolled her eyes.

"Well, I knew that, you silly kitty. My boyfriend hasn't even made a cat pun around me yet, so of course he can't be you," she teased, a smile on his face.

Despite all of his worries at the beginning of the night, Chat Noir couldn't help but feel a bit lighter when he was with Ladybug. She and Marinette were magic like that, the two always knew exactly how to cheer him up.

"Your boyfriend doesn't like to pun?" Chat Noir gasped. "That is moewgnificent crime against humanity!"

"Boo," Ladybug groaned. "Here I thought I was going to get a night free of puns."

"With me around? Never. Although I seem to recall you saying that my humor is your favorite quality of mine," he sang.

"Nope. I must have been lying," Ladybug vehemently denied.

"LB, you were under the influence of a truth akuma. It's simply impossible that you were lying," Chat Noir reminded her. She stuck her tongue out at him in response.

"Well it's been months since that happened, perhaps my taste has changed," she grumbled. Chat Noir wasn't convinced, he only laughed.

"Sure, My Lady, whatever you say," he said, laughing. Ladybug gave him a small smile.

"There we go, now you're laughing," she said softly.

"I guess I am," Chat Noir returned her grin. There would be time to dwell on the issues of his father and Marinette and his identity later. Right now he was going to enjoy sitting on his favorite landmark with his second favorite person. "Thank you for cheering me up."

"What are friends for?"

Friends. While Chat might've hated Ladybug calling him a friend before, he now basked in it. She was his first love and would always be important to him, but what he had with Marinette was special.

"To gripe about hiding our identities from our significant others," he joked.

"Absolutely. It's quite therapeutic, actually. I just wish Tikki would explain why, but I get the feeling that her explaining why would be just as dangerous as me telling him," Ladybug said, eyes looking back out on Paris.

"Plagg acts like it would be the end of the world to tell her. Considering that he's actually serious about this topic, I think I'm starting to believe him," Chat Noir let out a sigh. "But I just don't see how it leads to that point. It's like I'm at Point A, if I move to Point B, then Point D will happen. But it's Point C that I don't know about, and that's apparently the most important part. I'm just glad that I have someone who understands."

"Trust me, I understand your situation all too well," Ladybug said, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm going through the exact same thing, after all. Tikki has been around for several millennia, so I trust her judgment, I just wish I knew where she was coming from." Ladybug deflated. "Especially with that other friend who Tikki very much approves of..." she trailed off, fixing her eyes on the sky.

"I wonder what Plagg's reaction would be if I asked him to reveal my identity to a civilian friend of mine. If he would be on board with that," he mumbled. "What makes my girlfriend? I know she's trustworthy. Hell, they've met!"

It was funny. Funny how Chat Noir didn't realize his fatal mistake until he noticed Ladybug's sharp intake of breath. Funny how time seemed to slow down as Ladybug turned towards him, eyes blazing. Funny how any excuse he might've had flew right out the window as he was suddenly under the full force of Ladybug's suspicions.

"How has she met him if she doesn't know who you are, Chat?" she asked, an edge on her voice that didn't quite make sense. She didn't sound angry, or suspicious, or even upset. She sounded... hopeful?

"Um, it's a story I probably shouldn't be telling you. You'd figure out who my girlfriend is right away and then you'd figure out my identity. We can't have that, we're at risk during every single attack, remember?" Chat Noir tried to weasel his way out of his demise, but the way Ladybug was looking at him told him it was a fruitless effort.

"Yeah..." she trailed off, squinting her eyes at him.

"Seriously Bug, you really shouldn't press the matter. I know how important keeping our identities a secret is to you. And considering how weird our kwamis have been about it lately, it's probably best not to press the matter," he reminded her, searching his eyes. "I mean, you know that I would love to know who you are, and I would love for you to know who I am." He turned back towards the city. "But I also trust Plagg and your judgment. If it's safer for us to not know, then that's what we have to do."

"Chat, why do you think me figuring out who your girlfriend is would reveal your identity? It's not like I'm going to search her out and ask her," Ladybug said, placing a hand on his arm.

Chat Noir turned back to look at her. Ladybug knew Marinette, she knew her well enough to trust her with multiple miraculouses. But even if she didn't know Marinette, the news of her and Adrien Agreste dating would break soon enough. No amount of his father's power would prevent that.

"Trust me when I say you won't need to. You'll figure it out pretty much immediately as soon as the news breaks."

"My boyfriend is famous. That's why I haven't told you his name," Ladybug said hurriedly. Chat Noir's eyes widened.

"Ladybug, why are you telling me this?" he breathed out. He probably knew her boyfriend if he was famous, probably met him at one fancy party or the next.

"You're the same, aren't you?" she asked, her hand coming up as if to touch his face. She stopped herself.

"Chat Noir is plenty famous," he joked, shooting her a wink. It didn't work.

"You and I both know that's not who I'm talking about," Ladybug snapped. Chat Noir stepped back from her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I'm just going through shock," she let out a sigh.

"You know who my girlfriend is, don't you?" Chat Noir whispered, his stomach dropping.

"I have a suspicion. Besides you and I there's only one other person I know who interacted with Plagg. Since that information alone would give away her identity to me, and she somehow met him without you revealing your identity, I'm pretty sure it's her," Ladybug admitted, her eyes not meeting his. Was he imagining things, or was she actually blushing?

"Would you believe me if I said that he had a hankering for cheese and ran into her?" Chat Noir asked meekly. Ladybug laughed.

"I would almost believe it, but Plagg isn't that irresponsible. Even if he'd like to think otherwise."

"Worth a shot." Chat Noir shrugged.

"So, your girlfriend is the person I'm thinking of?" Ladybug asked, her voice so quiet Chat Noir could barely hear her. And that was with his supernatural hearing!

"I guess it depends on who the person you're thinking of is, but either way you shouldn't tell me. The news of her and I dating will come out soon enough and you'll recognize the name." Ladybug's eyes widened. "If she's the girl you're thinking of," he added hastily.

"It might be too late, Chat," she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. "You and I both know we have glamor to protect our identities that wears off once we know."

Chat Noir felt the blood drain from his face.

"The glamor is already wearing off?" he hissed.

"Maybe?" she squeaked.

"Ladybug!"

"Okay, fine! Yes, the glamor is probably wearing off because I'm suddenly seeing so many connections that I never saw before, and I am going to go absolutely insane," she rambled, her voice getting higher and higher. Oh God, she was going into panic mode.

"Hey, hey, look at me." Chat Noir grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "It's going to be okay. Maybe it all seems very scary right now, and yes, things are probably going to be different if you know, but maybe it'll be a good different. You'll be able to know when I'm not going to make it to an attack. You'll be able to contact me whenever and wherever in case you need some back up. If anything, it's better you know than if I knew. I'm your shield, I'm the one getting hit, not you. We couldn't afford for you to get hit before, nothing has changed now," he said, his eyes boring into hers. Ladybug bit her lip, but her eyes were shining. It was an expression Chat Noir had never seen on her face before. There was a blush on her face, it was plain as day. The only question was, why?

"But it's not fair!" she cried. "If I know your identity then you should know mine! I can't keep it from you, chaton. I just can't."

"Bug, I swear it's okay. It's not safe for me to know. You and I both know that. And we don't even know if you figured out my identity!" Chat Noir said, trying to calm her down. Her reaction was something Chat Noir couldn't possibly piece together. She didn't seem mad about figuring it out, or even scared. She just seemed upset that he couldn't know hers. Just when he thought he figured Ladybug out, she goes and completely changes up on him.

"Adrien Agreste."

Chat Noir froze. He couldn't help himself! Ladybug just said his name aloud, she knew. And his reaction had just been the final nail on the coffin.

"It really is you, isn't it?" Ladybug stepped out of his grasp. Chat Noir tried to ignore the sting in his heart.

"Would that be so bad?" he whispered.

"No! No, not at all. I uh, I see a lot of similarities between you two. I just might need a few nights to process. I promise I'm not, like, disappointed, it's just a lot to take in," Ladybug said, a smile on her face that Chat Noir didn't quite understand. She looked a little crazed, actually.

"Okay, I trust you," he said, giving her a smile that he hoped was comforting. It at least worked on Marinette, and it seemed as though it worked on Ladybug, too.

"But uh, one last thing? Tell your girlfriend who you are. Marinette will understand, I don't care what Plagg says. I'm the Guardian, and I'm giving you my explicit permission to tell your girlfriend who you are. I think it'll be more dangerous if you don't," she said, grabbing her yo-yo.

"A-are you leaving already? Shouldn't we talk about the fact that you know who I am?" Chat Noir reached out to grab her hand.

"Tomorrow kitty, on our joint patrol. I just need to figure out some things first, nothing bad, I promise. If anything, figuring out you're Adrien has only grown my admiration for you," Ladybug said, giving him a sweet smile that reminded him so much of Marinette that it actually hurt. His heart pounded at her words, that traitor. The words seemed to register with Ladybug as her eyes grew wide and her face flushed. "I mean! You know what? I'm just going to go now before I make things worse, kloveyoubye!"

Ladybug swung off into the night leaving alone one very confused Chat Noir standing on the Eiffel Tower. 

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I'm actually so, so, so happy with how this turned out. I'm very interested to see how they handle Marinette and Adrien wanting to tell each other their identities. I think the kwami's would be very against it, considering how against they were at the thought of the two of them getting together. -Colorado