"Wasn't it just too convenient?" Adrien stresses for the third time, clicking 'replay' on the leaked security camera footage that Alya had managed to post on the LadyBlog.

He hears Plagg heave a deep sigh, followed by a disdainful, "Here we go again."

"It just doesn't make any sense! The timing, the villain following him here. He has to be to be up to something-"

"Oh boo-hoo!" Plagg interrupts, taking a big sniff of a piece of camembert. "Ladybug's right; you're just being paranoid," he drones, now scoffing down his camembert. "If you weren't so in love with Ladybug, this wouldn't even be a problem!" He draws out the words 'in love' distastefully.

"If only there was a way to make sure he's telling the truth..." he considers, tapping his chin as he thinks. Something to give him more information...

He sits up suddenly and rushes over to his closet, searching through the multitude of shirts and trousers before finding one of his father's latest designs.

"Adrien, what are you doing now?" Plagg whines, floating over to join him. "Hey, what's that?"

Adrien holds up the microchip-like device to inspect it, turning it around to better see it in the light.

"It's a clothing tracker my father uses as security on his new items," he explains, running back over to his computer. He taps frantically at the keys. "If I can connect it to my computer instead of his security system, then I can track Spider-Man throughout Paris!"

"And then you'll know who he is!" Plagg sounds oddly enthusiastic. "But, you don't know how to do that."

"Done," Adrien states proudly, successful. And then the first part of what Plagg said catches up to him.

Is he really going to do this?

If he knows who Spider-Man is he can keep an eye on him, and do some digging to find out if he's really as safe as he says he is. It would be perfect! And if he ever does anything to hurt anyone, he and Ladybug would be able to stop him.

But... he said that he would give Spider-Man a chance. A fair chance. Ladybug is counting on him! Does he really want to betray her trust; to betray her faith?

Besides, he doesn't want anyone to know his secret identity... well, anyone except for Ladybug. But certainly not Spider-Man.

He sets the tracker down on his desk and stares at it, feeling infinitely guilty. What should he do...

The alarm on his phone blares, vibrating against the table and shaking the tracker. It's time for patrol.

He stands up and exclaims, "Plagg, claws out!" Transforming into Chat Noir.

Plagg wasn't against the idea, but since when is Plagg's advice actually good? All he ever talks about is cheese.

He sighs again and puts the tracker in his pocket.

He'll give Spider-Man one chance, and if he messes it up the tracker will be his last resort.

-

Spider-Man is already on the roof of the old sweet shop when Chat Noir arrives, with no Ladybug in sight. Odd, considering he's already late from over-thinking the tracker, and stopping a mugging.

"Hi," Chat greets, and Spider-Man responds in kind.

Chat takes out his baton, and looks at his messages from Ladybug.

'Hey, Chat! Had a super secret mission, so can't make patrol tonight. Sorry.'

Another super secret mission? Sometimes he thinks that she really doesn't trust him.

Then again, she's Ladybug. She'll tell him when she's ready.

He sends back a smiling cat emoji to show her that he's seen the message, and puts his baton away. Maybe she's on a super secret mission to find out more about Spider-Man...

Now that's just wishful thinking.

"Ready for patrol?" he asks, turning his attention back to Spider-Man.

"Already done," states the arachnid from his cross-legged position on the rooftop.

"You take the South, and I'll-" he cuts himself off at Spider-Man's words. "What do you mean 'already done'?"

"I've already been on patrol - you're welcome, by the way," He gets up from his position and walks over to Chat Noir. "I was thinking we could talk instead."

He's already been on patrol? On his own? How did he patrol all of Paris before got here? He isn't that late. Does he have super speed or something?

Chat doesn't know how to feel about that.

"Sure," he agrees enthusiastically. Having a proper conversation with Spider-Man should help him decide what to do with this weight in his pocket. "What do you want to talk about?" 

A sense of foreboding washes over him, and not being able to see Spider-Man's expression behind his mask isn't helping.

He tries to not make it obvious as he moves his hand closer to his baton, welcoming the subconscious support.

"Ladybug's even more beautiful outside of the mask, wouldn't you agree?"

What?! Chat feels his jaw drop.

Chat can practically hear the smirk in his voice. He knows who Ladybug is?!

"I was talking to her just last night," he continues, now talking to himself more than to Chat. Last night? Had she revealed her identity when he saved her? "Of course, she doesn't know that I  know. I'm not planning on telling her." He stops now and reaches over to put his hand on Chat's shoulder. "Are you okay, Chat? - May I call you Chat? - You look shocked."

'Shocked' is an understatement.

"Did you find out Ladybug's identity without her permission?" he questions, eyes narrowing, and barely stopping himself from shaking in anger.

Spider-Man laughs. He actually laughs.

"I take it you don't know then," he slides his hand off of Chat's shoulder and grabs his baton, flipping it between his hands before Chat snatches it back. "There's no point in touting on me, by the way. Ladybug's been so happy about you giving me a chance. I highly doubt she'd actually believe you."

"What do you want?" Chat demands, knowing that Spider-Man is right. He can't do anything to him until he and Ladybug are on the same page. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't worry about it," Spider-Man dismisses his questions, stepping into Chat's space. Chat braces himself, half-expecting an attack. "I wonder why she wouldn't tell you who she is? Well... I guess if she doesn't trust you about me, then of course she wouldn't trust you with her identity!" he cheers like it's some hilarious joke.

What is he getting from this? How is taunting him helping Spider-Man?

Spider-Man looks right into his stone-stuck face. "Would you like to know who Ladybug is?"

"Not from you," Chat answers immediately, anger boiling. Spider-Man has betrayed Ladybug. There is no chance that he is going to do the same thing.

"Come on!" Spider-Man taunts, moving even farther into Chat's space. "Are you not even the tiniest bit curious? I won't tell her."

He shoves Spider-Man away and makes his way to the edge of the roof. How is he going to get Ladybug to believe him?

Spider-Man follows him over and stands behind his shoulder. "Are you sure?" he asks into his ear.

He remembers the tracker in his pocket and takes it out as inconspicuously as he can. Spider-Man has definitely failed this fair chance.

"Positive," he states, turning around to glare at the arachnid.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng will be very happy to hear that," Spider-Man states proudly, before giving a mocking, "oops!"

"What?!" Chat basically shrieks, taking the opportunity to stick the tracker to Spider-Man's costume as he shoves him away. Hard. It instantly camouflages red.

"Oh, come one. It's not that shocking," Spider-Man jokes, not at all fazed.

"You can't go around telling people that!" he shouts, indignation coating the words like venom.

"Oh good, you believe me. It makes sense, doesn't it?" Spider-Man asks nonchalantly, walking to the other side of the roof.

"No, I don't. Why would I believe you?!" he shouts back. He refuses to believe anything this fraud tells him.

And yet, he knows it's the truth. Why would he lie?

This isn't how he wanted to find out.

"Just ask Marinette. I was at her place last night," Spider-Man states, the whites of his mask performing a wink, before he shoots out a web and swings off of the rooftop.

Chat Noir is seething. How dare he. How dare he. Their identities being kept secret is... was... so important to Ladybug.

Why was he visiting Marinette last night? What had he said to her? What was so important that he had to visit Ladybug's civilian self?

And that's where his thoughts come to an abrupt stop, and only one calm, quiet, heart-stopping thought makes it's way to the surface.

Marinette is Ladybug.

-------------------------------

1451 WORDS

Dedicated to everyone who supported and encouraged me during the hiatus, through votes, reads or comments. Thank you.

Check you have read Chapter 16. It is being shown before my previous message.

Enjoy!

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