"Chat Noir was silent. Not a single word had come out of his mouth since they had started scouring the rooftops. No flirts, or jokes, or even cat puns! Instead Ladybug's usually energetic and ball of lightning partner had slowly drawn into himself. He wondered if she noticed. Maybe she was grateful for the silence, that he had stopped bugging her for one night. Probably. He knew that she thought he was a nuisance most times, she probably saw this as a blessing.

As they came to the end of their patrol route, Chat Noir turned to nod goodbye to Ladybug. To his surprise, she caught his hand. His breath caught in his throat as he stood in the full force of her gaze. Even when she was frowning, she looked magnificent. Her gorgeous bluebell eyes searched his face. Could he be lucky enough that she was actually worried about him?

No, that would be silly.

'Are you okay, kitty?' She whispered, oh-so delicately.

Chat Noir opened his mouth, preparing the lie that was already tasting sour, but that wasn't what came out. No, what came out was a sob.

'Oh.' Ladybug breathed. Chat Noir inwardly cursed, how could he break down? Not here, not now. Not while she was watching. 'Oh, it's okay. Come here.' Without any more prompting, Ladybug pulled him into her arms.

The tears came as soon as she held him.

'Oh, I'm sorry, my chaton. You're gonna be okay, it's all going to be okay. You're going to make it out of this. I've got you, just let it all out. I've got you, it's okay now.' Ladybug whispered sweet nothings in his ear as he continued to cry.

Maybe later, he would feel embarrassed, thinking about how he let Ladybug see him like that. Feeling ashamed of himself, that he wasn't strong enough to keep up his act.

He was supposed to be the jokester, after all. The one who showed up with a funny line and a smile on his face. Chat Noir: sauve, chivalrous, brave... not this. Not this pathetic, shriveling mess he truly was. Chat Noir was supposed to be his escape from all of that! He couldn't let it show up here, to the one person who could not see beneath his act.

He made a promise to himself many months ago. He swore he would never show Ladybug just how pathetic he truly was.

And yet...

Here he was, breaking down in her arms. She held him, whispering words of comfort and reassurance in his ear. She sat them down carefully, playing with his hair and running her hands up and down his back. He cried as she did so, waves and waves of repressed memories of the past week hitting him harder than they had before.

And when his tear ducts were dried up, and when he pulled back from her embrace, she was there. Ladybug gave him a smile that made his heart light up, and suddenly he felt like crying for an entirely different reason. She was by his side, she hadn't abandoned him after all.

She had stayed."

"Marinette? Are you okay?" Alya's voice broke Marinette out of her trance. "Your eyes look red."

"Huh?" She was shocked to find that her voice was hoarse. "Yeah, I'm fine, it's just this fanfic that I'm reading."

"Oh? Do tell!" Alya grinned, leaning over to try and see her phone screen.

"Well, uh, actually it's the latest chapter of Adrien's fanfiction." She looked at Alya sheepishly.

"No way! Agreste!" Alya crossed her arms.

The aforementioned boy turned around in his seat and raised an eyebrow at her glare.

"You updated and didn't tell me?" She slapped her hand against her heart and let out a dramatic gasp. "I feel betrayed!"

"I didn't update, I just posted a one-shot."

"Still! I thought we promised each other to keep the other updated on our LadyNoir escapades." Alya pouted.

"I'm sorry, I'll be sure to let Her Royal Highness know next time." Adrien teased.

"Why thank you, my loyal subject."

The news of Adrien having an AO3 page was not something Marinette first believed. When Alya had first brought it up, Marinette all but laughed in her face. Her Adrien? Writing fanfiction? The image had just not computed in her head. It was almost as silly as her theory of him being Chat Noir!

Almost.

Yet when he had exchanged usernames with Alya one morning before class, Marinette had no choice but to accept it as truth. And hey! She liked writing too, in fact, that was one of her hobbies. Of course, it was all writing things down in her diary and not fictional, but how different could it possibly be?

Very different, as she would soon find out.

In fact, it was hopeless to try and have a conversation about it with Adrien without her feeling lost. But there was no way she was going to let this opportunity go to waste! This was something he was passionate about and sacrifices had to be made for love, right? Right.

She visited his account not three days after overhearing his and Alya's conversation.

To her horror, and Alya's amusement, his entire account only featured one ship. LadyNoir.

Of course, the universe just loved to laugh at her. Of course her crush shipped her with the person who she kept turning down for him. Of course she had to read LadyNoir fanfiction if she wanted to bond with her crush over his writing. 

Of course she read it.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but story after story of angst and hurt/comfort wasn't it. If anything, Adrien seemed like someone who would stick to fluff and not handle anything darker. But nope! Instead of sappy love confessions and dramatic proposals, Marinette was treated to over 100,000 words of breakdowns, self-doubt, anxiety, and, if she was lucky, a bit of emotional hurt/comfort as a treat.

She wasn't sure what would've hurt more.

Her only solace was the fact that Adrien wasn't Chat Noir. He might be able to write both her partner and herself scarily accurate from time to time, but he was just a good writer. Chat Noir's problems were so believable because of Adrien's talent! Not because he was actually going through them.

He would tell her if anything that soul-crushing was happening at home. 

"Can't believe that you're reading a LadyNoir fanfic before I am." Alya muttered, pulling out her phone.

"You're reading it, Marinette? What do you think?" Adrien perked up, turning his attention onto her. He was way too cute like that, looking like a kitten with a sparkle in his eye.

"W-well I," Marinette pushed down her desire to scream her feelings, to jumble up her words, and to overthink. "It's really emotional, you write them very realistically. B-but I'm not finished." Her voice got softer and softer, but she spoke to him without stuttering! Go her!

"You'll have to let me know what you think once you finish it!"

"25,283 words?" Alya let out a whistle. "Damn Agreste, that's impressive."

"Let's just say I had a sudden burst of inspiration."

"Well, at least I know I'm going to get my LadyNoir angst fix." Alya commented, scanning the tags. Adrien let out a laugh.

"I might even add on another chapter, I haven't fully decided yet..."

"Well, I'm incredibly intrigued, you write angst so well."

"Oh believe me, I know." Adrien flashed her a wicked grin that made Marinette's heart skip a beat. It seemed so familiar, yet there was something off about his eyes...

It was gone as soon as it appeared. Marinette shook it off, it was most likely the trick of the light.

Mme. Bustier called her class to attention, and the school day began. Marinette forlornly put away the fanfiction, already simmering in anticipation for lunch when she could read in peace. 

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The school day had been painstakingly long. Her teachers had taken no pity on her, handing out assignment after assignment. And then at lunch, Hawkmoth had decided to be the absolute best and launch an attack on the city. By the time she had returned, it was time for the next class.

Once Marinette had gotten home, she wanted nothing more than to collapse on her bed and read but no. Her parents needed her help in the bakery, which she was happy to do! Just not when she had a very important story that was burning a hole in her pocket. By the time they relieved her of her cashier duties, the sun had already set low beyond the horizon.

And then it was time for her dreaded homework. Thanks, Mme. Mendeleiev, really helpful. Physics was going to kill her, if Hawkmoth didn't first. It was nearing her bedtime by the time everything was prepped and okay for the next day.

Marinette flopped down into her bed and pulled out her phone, thanking whatever that was watching over her that no one called her for another responsibility.

"Thank the Lord." Marinette pulled out her phone and returned to the fanfiction.

She had been about halfway through by the time school had begun and she needed the hurt/comfort she was promised. Her eyes eagerly scanned through the chapter as Chat Noir explained what had been happening throughout the week. Between his deadbeat dad, his mother who had walked out on him, and having to work multiple jobs, the Chat Noir in this fanfiction had to put up with so much.

Marinette's heart went out to him. Even if it wasn't real, it still hurt to read about her kitty going through that much pain.

Thank the Lord that if he was actually going through something, he would tell her. He was her partner! And she was always going to be there for him, no matter what. She knew that there was a boy behind that mask, and she cared about that boy so much. He knew that, she made sure of it.

She showed it in the pastries she gave him, being a shoulder for him to rest on, laughing at his jokes, most times it was genuine, letting him in bit by bit. Chat Noir knew things about her no one else did, safely hiding behind a mask. There was no embarrassment in telling him small obscure details about her.

It was funny, the way they worked. She either knew things about him that were far too broad or things that were far too obscure. But she liked it. It was how they operated, a relationship like no other.

Marinette would always treasure it.

"'I'm sorry.' Chat Noir sniffed, finally getting a word out.

'Why?' Ladybug gently wiped away his tears. Too gently for what he deserved.

'For breaking down like that, I know that wasn't a pretty sight.'

'To hell with pretty sights, you're my partner. I'm gonna be here no matter what, okay?'

'Even though, I'm not... you know,' Chat Noir's voice dropped into barely a whisper as he uttered the word that haunted him. 'Perfect?'

'Oh chaton, of course.' Ladybug drew him back into her arms. He never wanted to leave. She was his safe haven, his Sun, giving him light and warmth in contrast to the harsh night. Her glow left him secure all throughout the night. 'Nobody is perfect.'

'You are.' He sniffled. Ladybug laughed, a sound of angels.

'No, I'm really not.'

Chat Noir pulled back, just to give her a look of doubt.

'I'm not! And I'll prove it to you.'

'I highly doubt you'll be able to.' A small smile was tugging on his lips. How was it that even as the world seemed so hopeless earlier, it suddenly was filled with light and joy? Ladybug was just magical like that.

'Here, I'll let you in on a little secret.' She leaned in, so close he could see the freckles under her mask. 'I once fell into the Seine because I was chasing after a purple butterfly. I thought it was an akuma. It was not until after I was soaking wet that I discovered that it wasn't, in fact, an akuma.'"

Marinette's world came to a screeching halt. 

"What?" She whispered.

"Marinette? Are you okay? You look pale." Tikki flew over to her holder, checking Marinette's forehead.

"T-Tikki?" Marinette's voice was shot and she was one thread away from crying.

"What is it, Marinette?"

"Do you know if Adrien was around when I fell into the Seine? As Marinette, I mean, you know, that one time?"

"Well,"

"Because if he did, then he'd know I'm Ladybug, but then he wouldn't be Chat Noir. I don't know how he figured it out, but that's fine. As long as he doesn't figure out Chat Noir's identity too, we're in the clear. That has to be it! He had to have been around when I fell in, and connected the dots. That's why he was so eager to hear my response this morning! Because otherwise he would be Chat Noir, and he can't possibly be Chat Noir, because if he was that would make me the worst partner ever. There's no way that Chat Noir could really be going through that much pain, no way he really thinks I think that little of him, right Tikki? Adrien was there, right?"

Tikki's lack of response answered the question for her.

"Tikki! Come on, he had to have been there!"

"Marinette." Tikki said gently.

"Tikki." Marinette felt tears well up in her eyes. She had to see him, and she had to see him now. She had to make sure that it wasn't true.

"Mari-"

Whatever Tikki was about to say, it was cut off by Marinette calling her transformation and swinging away, making a beeline towards the Agreste mansion. 

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Adrien was daydreaming when Ladybug crashed into his room. Well actually, she crashed into his window panes, but those were around the same thing anyway.

Adrien eagerly unlocked his windows, letting her come on. Her visit was a welcome one, unless there was an akuma, in which case he needed to start daydreaming his excuse to break away ASAP.

"Ladybug? What are you doing here?" He asked, bewildered as he helped her over to the couch.

"Adrien. Oh my God."

It wasn't until her voice broke that Adrien noticed her red cheeks and puffy eyes.

"Ladybug? Are you okay?" His voice turned frantic as he rested his hands on her shoulders. That wasn't too forward right? That would give her some level of comfort, wouldn't it?

"I should be asking you that question." She giggled, but Adrien could hear the pain in her voice.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." He gave her a helpless smile, although a theory was beginning to form in his mind. But no, that would be too crazy, too convenient, something out of his dreams.

"Oh you don't? Does the name misterpawsome_92 ring a bell with you?" Ladybug asked him, raising an eyebrow and a smile appearing on her face.

Adrien blinked as he took in her words. A large flush came over his face. She read his fanfiction? But how in the world did she figure him out? He only gave out his online pseudonym to a select few, and they would never spill his secret.

"I, uh," he gulped, knowing better than to lie to Ladybug. "That's my pen name."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Ladybug's smile turned more sad than teasing. Adrien wanted nothing more than to get the old one back. "You know, I love your writing."

"Really? You do?" He perked up before clearing his throat. "I mean, how did you figure me out?"

"You write me and Chat Noir so accurately." She looked down at her hands and began to fiddle with them. "One could think that maybe, oh I don't know," she looked around his room before her gaze fell on him. Her voice came out evenly, and he had to give her props. "You were Chat Noir himself."

Adrien opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could, Ladybug cut him off.

"Don't lie to me. That story about me falling into the Seine? I told that to one person and one person only." She gave him a pointed look.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I was walking by?" He shot her a sheepish smile, knowing he was caught.

"Nope."

Adrien let out a sigh.

"Worth a shot."

"Adrien," Ladybug's tone dipped back into seriousness as she placed her hand on his cheek. He felt his heart stop. "Do you, do you actually believe the things you write about? How I'll l-leave you the moment you show me insecurity?" Adrien couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze. "Chat,"

He shrugged.

"I mean, I over-dramatize some aspects, for the readers, you know?"

"Adrien, Chat," Ladybug moved forward to hug him. "I'm never going to leave you, not in a million years."

"But, what if-?"

"What if nothing! Nothing you do or say will make me leave you, unless you, I don't know, turn over to Hawkmoth's side." They both laughed at that.

"But my jokes, and my puns, and my flirts. I know they can annoy you sometimes, what if one day I become too much and you decide that not even my friendship is worth it?" He said quietly, still refusing to meet her eyes.

"Now why would the boy I love ever become too much for showing me why I love him in the first place?" She sounded incredulous.

"What?" His eyes snapped right to hers.

"You heard me, I love you." She smiled at him, stroking his cheek. "I love you so much, Adrien, and no amount of bad cat puns will ever change that. Hell! It might even make me fall for you even more."

Adrien opened his mouth, ecstatic that finally the love of his life returned his feelings! They could be together! She even knew he was Adrien and didn't...

Didn't know a single thing outside of what he says in tabloids about his civilian self.

"Ladybug, I'm not who you think I am." He said quietly. "There's a lot about me, Adrien-me, that you don't know about. What if when I show you those you d-decide you don't w-want me anymore and-?" His voice was starting to break up. He didn't want to cry in front of Ladybug, but she promised him that she wouldn't leave.

"Do you remember earlier, how you were asking me how I knew you were misterpawsome_92?" Ladybug asked. Adrien nodded, his heart fluttering. "We're totally coming back to that name later, by the way."

"Okay." He laughed through the tears that were starting to form.

"Well, that's because you told me." She gave him a nervous smile.

"Marinette." He said immediately, not needing to think about it.

His theory was confirmed when, seconds later, his spotted partner was replaced with his cute classmate.

"I knew it." He pulled her into a hug, smiling so wide it hurt.

"How?"

"No one else could be her." He shrugged, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. And to him, it was.

"Really?"

"Really. Otherwise I would've fallen in love with two separate people." Adrien tried to sound as casual as he could, even as his mind was screaming at him.

"Me too." Marinette shyly took his hand.

"Really?"

"Really. So believe me when I say nothing that you're going through as Adrien or Chat Noir is going to make me leave you." Marinette told him, squeezing his hand as tight as she could, as if that could make him believe her.

"I love you." He whispered, placing a soft kiss on her hand.

"I love you, too." She returned the gesture.

"Can I hold you for a minute?" He asked.

"You can hold me as long as you'd like." She said, moving into his arms.

"Even if that's the entire night?"

"Don't make a promise like that, kitty." Marinette tapped his nose. "Not if you're not gonna keep it."

"When have I not kept my promises, bugaboo?" He pressed a light kiss to her head.

"Never." She sighed, relaxing into him.

"And I won't break this one."

Man of his word, he didn't. When the sun came up, it saw the two teens, still tangled up in each other's embrace.