Suuuuper late upload today, oops. Today was rather hectic, and I kinda wasn't feeling it. Until I started writing and then I got into the groove. Anyways, it's still not past midnight here so it totally counts, ha! -Colorado

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Ladybug was about to strangle Tikki. It had been several days since she had suggested Chat Noir should reveal his identity to her. While Ladybug had originally shook off the idea for several reasons, it had plagued her mind ever since. She wasn't even sure where Tikki had gotten the idea from. She had always been adamant that their identities should remain a secret. Up until the miraculouses had been taken right from under her, Tikki told her there was no way she could know his identity. Marinette didn't understand, she should be even more careful now that Monarch was around, but here Tikki was telling her to throw caution to the wind.

It had been several days since she had last seen Chat Noir. She hadn't seen him since their last patrol, but she couldn't hide from him forever. The memory of his ring on the rooftop still haunted her. The way he had been so upset at her constantly lying to him. He wasn't upset at her telling someone her identity, he wasn't upset with her for breaking down, he was only upset at her lies. She really didn't understand how he could have been so kind to her. So she promised him to stop it all, to stop the lies and the deceit, even if it was for his own good. If Chat Blanc came back, Heaven forbid, she would simply tell Tikki "I told you so." Her promise to him involved actually showing up to patrol, which just so happened to be tonight.

No more running.

"I just don't get it Tikki, why would you tell me that I could know his identity?" Marinette was pacing her room, nearly tearing her hair out. "I've been thinking about it all week! How he'd react, how nice it would be to be in his civilian life, even who he is! You know I can't. It's not safe." She wrapped her arms around herself, shooting her kwami a dirty look. To give Tikki some credit, she had a guilty smile on her face.

"I know you feel like that now, but trust me when I say things will be safer this way. I'll leave the decision up to you, but I think it's for the best that you know now," Tikki said, her voice always that same tone of support. Marinette groaned, didn't Tikki know that would only make her more conflicted?

Because little did Tikki know, things had been different with her and Chat Noir recently. A good different that Marinette desperately wanted to keep. She hadn't felt this close to Chat Noir since she became the Guardian, and she couldn't risk screwing that up. Especially because she could feel something shifting behind her. Her reliance on getting over Adrien combined with her growing partnership with Chat was a dangerous combination. He was so sweet to her, so supportive even after she had messed up. Marinette wasn't sure why she didn't see it before. She didn't dare name these feelings; it was too dangerous, especially after her feelings for Adrien made her mess up so catastrophically.

However, little did Marinette know that Chat Noir was actually Adrien. Tikki knew that Marinette mistaking Felix for Adrien wouldn't have happened if Marinette knew who he was. Now that Felix had betrayed them, Tikki couldn't risk that happening again. She wasn't sure how her chosen would react to the reveal, but she knew it would be what was best. It was time.

Marinette's alarm went off, and the girl let out a yelp. It was time for patrol.

"Just think about it," Tikki said one last time before Marinette called for her transformation.

Ladybug took to the skies, breathing in the nighttime air. It felt freeing to finally run across the rooftops after a week long break. She needed it after the stress of Monarch, but she missed being Ladybug. And she missed Chat Noir, but that wasn't important (she was so screwed). She got to their designated rooftop faster than she had been expecting. Tikki's stamina flowed through her, and after a week of being confined to her civilian self, it felt amazing. She had been so quick, in fact, she had managed to beat Chat Noir.

For once in her life, Ladybug almost wished she had been late. Being alone meant she had to think, and she really, really didn't want to do that right now. The moment she closed her eyes, a face popped into her mind. The face had green eyes and blond hair, Chat's face, civilian Chat's face. Ladybug resisted groaning again. That face had been haunting her all week long.

"Penny for your thoughts, My Lady?" Chat Noir asked, making Ladybug jump. She was normally so in tune to his presence, but her thoughts were dulling her instinct. Her partner came and sat beside her, giving her that same grin that could make her entire day.

He looked so endearing like that, and Marinette had been bottling all of this up for the better part of a week. She couldn't tell Alya about this. She had revealed her identity to Nino and would probably just tell Marinette to go for it. Alya, bless her heart, didn't quite understand everything that went into keeping their identities a secret. Chat Noir understood, though, and even if he's wanted to know their identities since day one, she knew she could still trust his judgment. And besides, she had promised him no more secrets, right?

So she told him the truth.

"TikkithinksIshouldknowyouridentity," she said, squeezing her eyes shut.

"What? I don't think I quite heard that," Chat said, but a strain in his voice told Ladybug he heard her just fine.

"Tikki thinks I should know your identity," she said again, this time a bit slower. Chat was silent, too silent. Ladybug risked opening her eyes to take a quick glance at him.

He was staring at her, just staring. His mouth was open so wide he was going to catch flies. It would almost be funny if Ladybug wasn't so scared. Then his mouth clamped shut and he shook his head. A shaky smile came over his face.

"That... makes sense, actually," he said slowly. "You know I will follow your judgment whatever you decide. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to you knowing my identity," he gave her a nervous grin, but Ladybug could see the hope shining in his eyes.

Ladybug let out a long sigh, the rational side of her getting drowned out by her heart.

"I don't know, Chat," she said. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to know!" she added when she saw the way his face crumpled. "But I've been told since the beginning that we weren't supposed to know each other's identities. That has been rule one since the very beginning. It's what my own intuition said before Master Fu came along, it's what Tikki and the rest of the kwamis said after he came along. It's hard to push that aside, especially now that Shadowmoth has nearly every single miraculous," she tried to explain, but she knew she was rambling. Still, Chat Noir just squeezed her shoulder and gave her a supportive smile.

"I understand, My Lady. Why is Tikki telling you it's okay now? I have a suspicion, but I need to confirm it before I say anything else," he said, his voice soft. Ladybug tried her hardest to ignore how her heart sped up from the way he looked at her.

"She said it would be safer for you to know." Ladybug shrugged. "She's been surprisingly cryptic about it, but I think she thinks all of this," she gestured to the sky above them, "wouldn't have happened if I knew."

"She's half right," Chat Noir said, his face half a smile and half a grimace. "Felix wouldn't have been mistaken as Adrien Agreste if you knew. I'm guessing that's why he had a miraculous in the first place?"

Ladybug nodded slowly, trying her best to not let her shame swallow her whole. Something was tugging at the back of her mind, though. What does Felix and Adrien and their little switch up have to do with Chat Noir's identity? Her mind had an answer, but it was in a vault that Ladybug didn't have the key to. There was something there in her brain that was shooting off alarm bells, but she had no idea what the alarm bells were for. Was this the quantum masking messing with her?

"So you're telling me that Monarch wouldn't have all of the miraculouses if I knew who you were?" Ladybug asked softly, a hole forming in her stomach.

Chat Noir flinched.

"I wouldn't go that far. Felix is clever, he would've had a backup plan, but it would have prevented certain things. Not that it's your fault! You genuinely did what you thought was best, I could never fault you for that," Chat Noir reassured her. She hated how his smile was making her heart skip a beat.

"I'm just so conflicted, I have no idea what to do. I want to know, but what if that's just my emotion speaking? What if I'm going to make another mistake? What if-?"

"What if this is the best decision you've ever made? What if knowing strengthens our partnership even more? What if knowing relieves some of this massive stress I know you're under?" Chat interrupted her, giving her a very pointed look. "You're a lucky bug, Bug, knowing my identity probably won't lead to disaster."

A light bulb went off in Ladybug's head.

"You're right," she murmured, "I am lucky. Why don't we let fate decide?" Maybe it was an easy way out, but Ladybug would take anything at this point. "Lucky charm!" she called, and a spotted Magic 8 Ball fell into her hands.

Chat Noir snorted.

"That's letting fate decide alright. Go one, ask it the question." Chat Noir was obviously trying very hard not to laugh. Ladybug could've glared at him, but she didn't think that was very "good partner who's trying to make things up to you" of her.

"Should I know Chat Noir's identity?" she asked, shaking the Magic 8 Ball with all her might. She held her breath as the small triangle appeared, no doubt the answer would change her life forever. She couldn't do it. She closed her eyes, not daring to look at the charm.

"Bug, it's going to be okay," Chat Noir whispered, placing his arm around her shoulder. She held onto that as if it were a lifeline. Shaking, she blinked her eyes open.

A bold 'Yes' stared up at her. Ladybug felt her breath leave her. If she had been standing up, she had no doubt she would've fallen.

"What does it say?" Always curious, Chat leaned over to try and see the answer. Ladybug didn't dare speak, she only turned the ball towards him. "Oh," he squeaked, his face becoming flushed.

"I guess that does it," Ladybug said. It was supposed to be a joke, but her voice was far too shaky. Chat Noir nodded, and she could see the nerves written all over his face. "Hey," Ladybug squeezed his arm, "you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."

"I know." He gave her a reassuring grin. "I swear I want to do this, it's just the idea of revealing my identity to you feels very different from actually doing it."

Ladybug nodded.

"Take your time, Chat." She squeezed his arm again. Even as her earrings began to beep, she didn't want to rush him.

She couldn't even begin to understand what he was feeling. On her part, she was mainly feeling like she was going to throw up. She was nervous, why was she so nervous? It was just Chat Noir. There were millions of people in Paris, there was no way he was someone she knew. He was just going to be some random kid with blond hair and green eyes. Except he wouldn't be a random kid at all. He would be her precious partner, her best friend her-.

Oh.

His transformation disappeared in a flash of green, and Adrien Agreste appeared right in front of her.

Ladybug couldn't help it, she screamed. Adrien's face turned to one of complete panic and, oh God, that was Chat's face! How in the world had she not seen it anymore?

"Um, hi? I know we've interacted a few times as Ladybug and as Adrien, and I'm sure our last meeting like this probably leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but-," Adrien's rambling stopped when Ladybug started to laugh. That was Chat's voice. "Are you okay, Ladybug?" he asked quietly.

Ladybug shook her head rapidly, falling against the boy because how in the world could she possibly be okay? Just when she was getting over Adrien, just when Chat Noir was starting to win her over, he just had to go and be the same person! It was quite inconsiderate of him, actually. How in the world was she supposed to not be in love with him now?

"Is it really that bad?" The way Adrien's voice shook was enough to snap Ladybug out of it. He looked so scared. She could feel her heart breaking. Knowing her chaton the way she did, she knew he probably took her laughter as a rejection. Ladybug took a deep breath.

She could do this. She could hold a decent conversation with Adrien Agreste. She had to.

"No, it's not bad at all. In fact, it makes a lot of sense. Both of you are so kind and so brave, there's no one else I'd rather Chat be." She placed her hand on his cheek, and he practically melted into her. When their eyes met, Adrien went bright red. Oops. Maybe she overdid it a little bit, especially considering he was in love with her.

Wait! He was in love with her! Ladybug was going to go absolutely feral. Adrien's eyes flickered over to her earrings as they let out a beep.

"You don't have much time," he murmured, his fingers brushing her earrings. Ladybug let out a long sigh.

"I can't just leave like this, give me five minutes." She stood up, looking for a nearby chimney. She almost missed the shock on Adrien's face. Almost. She gave him a nervous smile. "I'm uh," she stared down at her feet, "I'm not sure if I'm ready for you to know my identity yet. I promise I'll explain more when I have the time, but... yeah." She kept staring at her feet until she felt Adrien's arms grab her shoulders. She stared up at him, his eyes filled with so much emotion she felt like she couldn't breathe.

"I would never want to rush you, My Lady. Getting to share this with you is enough." He grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Adrien's face with Chat's lines was a deadly combination, and Ladybug was certainly feeling their effects.

"Um, I'm toing goo nansform tow. I mean! I'm noing too gansform tow. I mean!"

Adrien just gave her a soft smile, his eyes sparkling even more in the Parisian night. A new emotion seemed to fill them, one that looked almost like suspicion. Uh-oh. Of course stuttering would give her away.

"Go, then we can chat." His pun was enough for Ladybug to roll her eyes and duck behind the chimney.

She transformed back, handing Tikki a macaron.

"Not a word," Marinette hissed. Tikki only giggled, that traitor. Luckily, it seemed as though she would be spared from teasing until she got home.

When Ladybug reappeared, she was more than a little surprised to see Chat Noir on the roof.

"I figured it would be hard to explain why Ladybug and Adrien Agreste were up on a rooftop this late at night," he explained at her questioning glance.

"We could just say it was a date." Ladybug shrugged. At Chat's gobsmacked expression, her words seemed to process in her head. Ladybug's face felt like it was absolutely on fire and it didn't seem like Chat Noir fared any different.

"You'd... want to go on a date with Adrien Agreste?" he whispered, the the love in his eyes making her feel faint.

"I always have," Ladybug admitted, opting to stare down at her hands.

"Bug, look at me." In a second, Chat Noir was right in front of her. One of his hands guiding her chin up to meet his eyes. He was searching her face, looking for the answer to a question he was too scared to ask. If Ladybug was being honest, she was a bit scared of the answer.

She had sworn off dating while she was Ladybug, just because Adrien was Chat Noir didn't mean that would change. No matter how badly her heart wanted it, she couldn't date him. She'd be running off too much on dates (unless she dated him as Ladybug), she'd give into her emotions too much during fights (she was already in too deep, dating him or not), she'd give Adrien another miraculous (no she wouldn't, she knew he was Chat Noir), she'd-. She'd run out of excuses.

Chat opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.

"Whatever it is you have to say, you should just say it," Ladybug breathed out, trying to ignore the way her mind was going a mile a minute.

"Was I the other boy, Ladybug?" Chat Noir whispered, the green of his eyes shooting straight into her soul.

It would've been easy to lie to him. She had been lying to him to protect him since day one. Just one last little fib until she screamed to Tikki about all of this. She could lie to Chat Noir. She could lie to Adrien Agreste. But... the way he was looking at her made her rethink. He was looking at her as if she was his everything. He was trusting her to tell the truth.

So screw it.

"Yes, you were," she breathed and then Chat was kissing her.

It was everything she ever dreamed it would be. His lips were soft, probably from all of the products he used. He was cradling her face as if she was a precious heirloom. She melted into his embrace, being vulnerable with him in a way she had never imagined.

Oh how she loved him.

They pulled apart, Chat Noir grinning at her as if she had given him the moon, Sun, and stars. It was really the other way around though.

Thank God she had listened to Tikki, and if her kwami had something to do with the Magic 8 Ball's answer, who was Marinette to judge?

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I actually adore this end result, jumping around the canon timeline to write my own stuff is so much fun. -Colorado Peculiar