Hello there!

For those of you who don't know me- probably anyone that reads this story- I'm Ari.

I've been lurking in the shadows of this fandom for a while now, doing nothing but favouriting stories. Now I'm finally gonna have a go at writing my first ML fic!

I hope you like it!

Marinette hung from a rope, trying to clear her head a bit.

Because Adrien was Chat and it just didn't make any sense. Adrien was polite and sweet and Chat was a pun-loving flirty guy who was nothing like him.

Then again, Marinette herself was different as Ladybug. She was definitely braver. More confident.

But Adrien was the exact opposite of Chat Noir and it ruined everything.

o0o

'Hey Ladybloggers!' Why do I keep watching this? 'Guess what? I got a real scoop for you! An Akuma managed to get Ladybug and Chat Noir's identities revealed!' Alya was so excited. Did she not get she was essentially ruining her best friend's life with this livestream she's posting? Of course not. Marinette hit the play button on her computer, trying to get it over with quickly.

'Here it is guys! I'm here, at the scene of the fight, where the akuma victim- now purified, don't worry!- managed to get Ladybug and Chat Noir up here, tied up. Their masks have fallen.' This is it. 'This is it guys! We're finally getting to find out who's behind the mask? Who has been saving us all this time? Who is the reason that Paris is safe? Well, guys, the answer is at the top of the Eiffel Tower!'

There was some mildly interesting footage of Alya commentating whilst climbing to the top.

As she reached the top, Ladybug's alter ego squeezed her eyes tightly shut. This was the bit Marinette was dreading.

'Almost there guys!' No. No no no no no. Why am I watching it? But Marinette couldn't stop watching.

She knew Alya's first impression, but after she'd blacked out... who knows what had happened?

Once this was over, she decided to go and see Chat-Adrien-whatever!

'Ok this is it! Once I round this corner, the secret is out!' They could agree on something right now.

'Ok, and Ladybug is... drumroll please!' Marinette laughed, a bitter sound. Alya gushed about how she couldn't believe it was finally happening, the sole purpose of this blog. Marinette wanted it to be over and done with.

'Anyway, back to the subject at hand! Our beloved hero Ladybug is...' she turned the corner and gasped. 'Mari?'

o0o

Adrien wanted to hit something. Or someone.

He just... ugh! Marinette was Ladybug!

The love of his life had sat right behind him the whole year and he hadn't noticed. His crush had had a crush on him for almost a year- a fact he only just discovered thanks to Nino- and he had been too stupid and oblivious to even notice!

'If it helps, and least you know she loves you?'

'Now is not the time Plagg. Camembert's in the fridge.

All thoughts of actually being helpful for a change vanished as the unlucky kwami sped off in search of his favourite treat, leaving his charge to collect his thoughts.

Marinette is Ladybug.

Ladybug is Marinette.

The entire world knows.

Oh god. Adrien cursed silently. The entire world knew who he was!

All because of one over enthusiastic fan who just couldn't not be akumatised just to reveal his identity.

'I hate the world right now.'

'I'm with you Plagg.'

o0o

Tikki was in despair.

Marinette shut her out pretty soon after she got home.

Tikki had vanished when her chosen flung the earrings across the room.

Like that would help.

o0o

Plagg knew he should be helping the kid but right now he had other things in his mind.

He'd been kinda excited about the reveal because it meant he could see Tikki- his one true love- again, but there was a disconcerting lack of her presence. He tried to reach out to find her, to keep her with him, but all to no avail.

Tikki was gone.

Leaving the Camembert aside, he tapped Adrien's shoulder.

Twice.

Thrice.

Four times.

Adrien didn't answer. Did he even know Plagg was there?

Yes. His instincts told him. But Adrien's reaction told him otherwise.

o0o

Alya was... confused.

Marinette, her best friend, was Ladybug. This whole time the person she'd been looking for had been right beside her.

But why didn't Mari tell her?

Sure, she would have been worried about Alya posting it on the Ladyblog, but Alya wouldn't do that.

Because Mari was her friend and she valued that friendship more the Marinette knew.

Alya felt slightly betrayed, a bit confused but mostly angry.

Didn't Marinette trust her?

o0o

Nino felt like he reacted wrong.

'Adrien, dude, why didn't you tell me?'

'Srsly? Don't you trust me?'

'I can't believe it. No, scratch that, I can't believe you

He'd been so harsh on his friend. He should have known all Adrien needed was time and support, not cruel words over the phone or mean texts.

He was a bad friend.

o0o

Chloé couldn't believe it. Ladybug was Maritrash? And Chat Noir- the 'mangy alley cat' as her past self would have put it- was her beloved Adrikins? God she'd messed up.

She'd been worshipping the wrong hero.

Why hadn't Adrikins told her though?

o0o

Gabriel Agreste was furious.

Adrien had been putting himself in danger and disobeying him and not telling him something important.

The fashion designer channeled his emotions into his work, resulting in a lot of red and black and slashes and rips.

o0o

Tom and Sabine were sharp.

They'd known for years, since Marinette first got the earrings.

They had been worried about her at first but she'd proven herself.

Now they were worried again.

This big reveal changes everything and Sabine wasn't sure her daughter could handle the pressure.

Tom was worried that the girl had changed, been broken past repair.

How right they were.

That's it! It's not too long but I hope you liked it!

Xoxo,

~KatnissEeveedeen