She was late.

Again.

Ladybug couldn't explain why, but she was late for the last few patrols, and now she's only escaping from her house, even though patrol has started 15 minutes ago.

Running on the rooftops, young super heroine was trying to make a believable excuse. It has never been her strong side, so she's been miserably falling.

Reaching the meeting spot she quickly looked around, confused, since Chat wasn't there.

Or so she thought.

"It's nice to finally see you there, LB"

She turned around, smiling nervously at him. Young hero felt guilty, so she hasn't even noticed his smirk.

"Uh... sorry I'm late again, it's just..."

But before she could finish her sentence, he took her hand, smirking flirtatiously:

"You're still on time to be my Lovebug" at that, Chat kissed the back of her hand, winking.

Ladybug just rolled her eyes and groaned quietly, taking her hand back. He never stops.

"M'lady, wait!"

She turned around, raising an eyebrow:

"What's that, kitty? Something's wrong?"

"No, no, the thing is... " he rubbed the back of his neck, searching for right words, "Well... I just wanted to ask... Can I at least know your name?"

But before she could have answered, he continued:

"Look, I know how much this secret identity thing means to you, but think about it, Paris is a big city and there's—"

"No, Chat, it still too risky. What if we can figure each other by the name?"

He sighed.

"I know... I just don't understand why would it be wrong to know each other in real life too?" Blonde turned his gaze away to the city below them.

"Chat..." she softly called, reaching for his shoulder.

The black cat smiled sadly at her, turning back to the view then.

She followed his gaze, sighing. But what if he's right? What if this is really no harm in knowing each other?

But she knew she was not ready, she wasn't sure about his reaction for Ladybug being his Princess...

On the other hand, she wanted to know to, so maybe if she...

"Okay"

"What?"

"Okay, you can know my real name, if it's what you really want to"

Chat started at her for a few seconds unbelievably, but then a huge grin crossed his face and he took her in a bear hug.

"Thank you, you can't imagine how much it means to me!"

She smiled a bit to herself at that, hugging him back. Ladybug wasn't feeling so sure about it already.

After letting her go, he even took a step back, to see her face better. She was worried, he knew it.

"I can go first, if it'll be easier for you"

She raised her eyes on him, silently thanking.

"Adrien"

Young heroine was left speechless. What? Did she heard it right? Was she imagining things, or did Chat really just said that his real name was Adrien?

Could it be... No. It would have been too good to be true, no.

"M'lady? You okay? Is... my name too awful for your beautiful ears?" He half-jokingly asked, being as nervous as she was deep inside.

"Wha–? No! No, it's not that... Uh... Never mind, everything's fine. I like that name"

'Or, perhaps, the holder' Tikki teased in her head, referring to both Adrien and Chat.

Young heroine chose to ignore her little friend's teasing.

"You sure? You look a bit out of it?" reaching for her hand, he stoped himself in the halfway, not sure if he was allowed to do it.

She was touched by his concern, and even took his hand in hers, but he didn't have to worry. She was okay.

"I'm sure, don't you worry" she smiled.

Smiling back, he suddenly pulls her closer, but not too close, for her relief.

"And you are..?"

She took a deep breath and sighed:

"Marinette"

It was the moment when silent felt over the two again. They were just standing on a rooftop, looking each other in the eyes, trying to find the answers to the endless sequence of questions. Who they were? Did they know each other? Are they who they think they are?

Until a beeping sound was heard.

"You have to go, you only have five minutes"

"You too"

They turned around to leave, when...

"Ladybug?"

"Hm?"

"See you tomorrow on patrol?"

She smiled at him:

"Of course".

***

"Marinette, it's okay"

The bluenette shook her head violently:

"No! What if... What if he finds out? He can, of course he can!"

She reached the end of her room, turned around and started walking again.

"I mean, Tikki, he knows both sides of me! It's easy, like to put one and one! Besides," she interrupted when her kwami tried to talk, "he has said before that I am a lot like Ladybug!"

Little red creature sighed, then floating to girl's face.

"Don't worry, Marinette. Even if he finds out, I highly doubt he will abandon you. He likes you!"

"You can't be so sure. Moreover, even if he does, it's still not me, but Ladybug"

"But you are Ladybug!"

Marinette just shook her head, she wasn't in a mood to argue with Tikki. She was too worried.

Come to think of it, there was really nothing bad in him finding out, except his attitude towards her and his behavior will most likely change, she was sure about it. And young designer wouldn't be able to bear it.

She wouldn't be able to lose him and his presence.

He was right, one day they will know, but not today! Not now! She wasn't ready.

And another thing to think about is... his name. Was he serious? If he was, how many boys in Paris have that name? What if he... Not possible!

He wouldn't have said his real name if he was her Adrien, who is Adrien Agreste, the most popular teen model in the whole city, because it would have been easy to figure out. But what if he wanted it? But why?

Besides... Adrien is calm and always smiling, never shows his true feelings. He's courteous and intelligent. Chat is different. He's courageous, compassionate, adventurous and passionate. They were so different, yet so alike. They both were kind and caring, reliable and sincere. Not to mention their similar dark blonde hair, and stunning green eyes.

Why everything in her life was so complicated and confusing?!

***

"Kid, stop".

No answer. He was back at it again. Plagg knew his holder was really dramatic at times, but it still pissed him off every time Adrien went that way.

Yet again he was just standing there, dashing against the rock and repeating that he was awfully stupid. Yes he was, but it's no use if you just keep bumping your head against the wall! Why were humans so difficult?

"Yes, you were ridiculously stupid and blind, but stop already! Natalie would be mad that you have bruises on your forehead!"

Adrien raised his head, turning to Plagg.

"What should I do?! I can't tell her, she's gonna be so mad, cause she told me it could happen!"

"And you knew she was right. Why did you even ask then? If you couldn't have guessed, what would it have given to you?"

The model nervously run his hand through his messy blond hair. Come to think of it, why did he even ask? She could have been any girl from Paris, with the most popular name and it wouldn't have led him anywhere... Maybe he was hoping it actually will give him a hint of who Ladybug was... He didn't intend to find out!

"I don't know? I mean... I did wanted to know, but, well... not like that!"

Black kwami groaned. No, seriously, why were humans so hard to understand? They say they want one thing, but when it becomes true, they're always not happy with that! He will never be able to get it.

Adrien suddenly stood up.

"I'm still not one hundred percent sure it's her, right? So what if... I'll just try to speak to her in school? It can gives me hints..."

Little kwami chose not to answer that, because his holder was just denying the truth, even though it was so obvious that Marinette and Ladybug is the same person, right from the start.

***

Okay. There she was. Speaking to her best friend about something. But she was obviously not paying much attention rather looking as if she was trying to find someone in the crowd. Who was she looking for? Why did she look so nervous? Was it a boy? Was it someone she loved?

So many questions and yet no answers. But he will find the truth. He needed to know...

***

"Plagg"

"Yeah?"

"It's her... It has been her this whole time... She's— She IS Ladybug..."

Black kwami sighed. He knew Adrien had a hard time believing it, but it wasn't he end of the world, so there were no need to be such a drama queen.

"I know"

"But... Wh— What should I do now?"

"Oh, I don't know, - Plagg answered sarcastically, - Perhaps, tell her?"

"What?! No! I can't, she'll be furious and will never talk to me again! And... And what if she'll find out I'm Adrien?.. She'll hate me even more!"

Plagg sighed again. He surely needed another piece of his precious Camembert to be able to hear his holder complaining with no reason at least a little bit longer.

"I mean... How could I be so blind?! It's so obvious! I'm feeling like an idiot right now!"

Little black kwami snickered:

"That's because you are an idiot"

Despite his worries he found it hard not to roll his eyes at his kwamis attitude. Why is he even telling him anything?

***

Later that day Ladybug was sitting on the edge of a roof, watching over her city and waiting for her partner to arrive. She wondered what had been keeping him? Was there another problem? Was he trying to avoid her after the last patrol? Or was he just late?

"Hey"

She turned around and smiled a little at him:

"Hi, kitty"

Why didn't he call her one of the nicknames? Not a single pun or a pickup line? Was he having a hard time being near her after founding out her name? Why—

"Heyo, guys! You seem quite today, something has happened?"

Ladybug immediately got to her feet and rushed to the red haired girl, taking her into a hug.

"You're back! I'm happy you're okay" she said, pulling away from Cosmy.

Said girl smiled warmly in return.

"Well, I couldn't possibly live you two just yet"

Girls were really excited to see each other, and Chat couldn't help but feel jealous, cause Ladybug was HIS Lady. But he chose not to show it, still interrupting their conversation:

"It's nice to see you again, I'm glad Fu was able to take care of you"

"Yeah, he's a purrrfessional after all, besides I at least would have come to thank you furrr bringing me there"

"Heh, no purrrroblem there, little black cat"

"Uh-huh, and why is that I'm the 'little one'?"

Ladybug found it hard not to snicker at their combat, so she cleared her throat:

"Don't you two think we should start patrolling know? Like, you know, the earlier you start, the earlier you finish"

They smiled sheepishly, nodding.

"I'll take the left bank, then" Cosmy said, trying to escape ASAP to give the pair some privacy.

"Wait, I'm coming with you!" Chat followed, leaving lost Ladybug alone on the roof.

What?

Why would he run away like that?

Was it really because of what happened yesterday?

Or was it just because of Cosmy?

***

"Look, I know it somewhat random but I need to talk to you. Well, actually, I need an advice..."

Cosmy looked intently into his eyes. What was he planning? She knew Chat liked Ladybug a lot, so why would he leave such a chance to be alone together? It was obvious that he was nervous, but she didn't have any idea why.

"Go ahead, I'm listening"

Now he seemed to became even more nervous. What in the word is wrong?

"So... uh... um... yesterday... well, yesterday I finally found out some information about her... actually she gave it to me, but not like— I mean—"

He sighed. It was harder than he expected. On the other hand he himself couldn't understand why was he so nervous.

Cosmy stifled a giggle, but Chat heard anyway. He looked so adorable pouting, that Cosmy couldn't hold it any longer and laughed out loud.

"Oh, sorry, I'm so sorry, – she laughed, – you just should have seen your face", she smiled, but then her face became serious again. – "I'm really sorry, but don't be nervous, I'll help you as much as I can"

Chat smiled a little in return and, with another sigh, he told her everything: how he finally was able to get LB's name, and how he found out it was one of his classmates, moreover one of his closest friends, how he didn't know what to do and needed help.

Cosmy was quite for some time, but her answer was filled with determination:

"I agree with your kwami, you should tell her, she has right to know. Even if she gets angry, I, personally, highly doubt that, it's better then she finds out by herself".

"But how?! I can't just say: 'Hey, Ladybug, remember I said that I can't figure you out by your name? That's bad cause I did'. That's just stupid!"

Now it was Cosmy's turn to sigh. On one hand Fu was right and she couldn't rush him, but on the other she couldn't bear these two.

"Okay, listen up, I have an idea..."

***

Ladybug was pacing rooftop for about a few minutes now. What was taking them so long? What were they doing? Were they... No, they barely know each other! Besides, even though being total dorks, they both were taking patrols seriously, so they wouldn't have—

"Sorry to keep you waiting"

They both jumped from the rooftop of next building, perfectly matching each other, two black cats in the night. Her mood became even worse.

She forced a smile, trying to hide her sadness and jealousy. But she was actually surprised when Cosmy asked her to stay and talk a bit. It was Friday, so it wouldn't be bad.

"Then, if you don't mind, I'll leave you two alone" Chat purred and kissed the back of Ladybug's hand and, to his surprise, she hasn't took it from him.

"Goodnight, M'Lady, by, Cosmy", – he bowed and left. Though none of girls noticed him returning and hiding nearby.

"What's that you wanted to talk about?"

"Look, I know what you might think, but you don't have to be jealous, yeah, I've noticed, there's nothing between me and Chat".

Black cat tried to eavesdrop, but had to get closer, cause even with his cats hearing he couldn't understand a word.

"I have no idea what are you talking about", – Ladybug huffed, trying to look unsuspicious.

"Yeah, yeah, of course. Don't be shy, I see the look you give him. Tell me, do you like him?"

"What?! No!"

'Course not'

This time he actually left, unable to hear anymore of this. What was he even hoping for? She could never return his feelings.

"I mean... Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I like him. It's hard not to, but..."

Cosmy smiled to herself, it was a great start.

"But what?"

"Well... yesterday we told each other our names. And the thing is... there's a boy in real life, who I like— liked, he's my classmate. I just thought I got over him and can focus on Chat and... Chat's name the same. I thought a lot about it but I hadn't come to a conclusion yet. I don't know whether they're the same person or not. And it's... really confusing, because if they're it's good, because I don't have to choose between them, but on other hand... I don't think Chat will be okay with me being, well, me in my normal life and I wouldn't be able to bear it, and my life is never that easy, and—"

"Whoa! Hold on, I got it. Don't overthink it. I've been to same situation, it ended up all well. You're meant for each other, as miraculous holders, so it'll all work out. Just listen to your heart"

Ladybug smiled somehow more brightly and hugged her friend tight.

"Thanks, Cosmy, I don't know what I would do without you"

"Don't thank me, I'm just doing it, because I can't watch you two trying to figure your feelings out"

"What? Do you mean—"

Cosmy mentally face palmed at herself, she had to control her tongue next time.

"Uh-oh! Look what time is that! Pretty late, huh? Better get going, see ya!"

With these words being said she left young heroine dumbfounded and with a lot of things to think about.

😅