The whole of his drive home for lunch, not a single thing could tug the soft smile from his face.

Marinette had been so adorably flustered.

Adrien hadn't been able to hold back the wink. Maybe it was from spending a little too much time in the transformation, but he had felt the urge to bat at her pigtails.

He knew that behind that stammer and that blush was the same girl who could tie his own stomach into knots. The one who could match his punches - and his jokes - without missing a beat.

As Ladybug, she'd seemed to be almost entirely immune to his charms.

But now he knew better.

And what's more - so did she. Marinette was much too proud to stay silent on it for too long.

Whistling happily, Adrien practically hopped up each of the stairs to the front door. The Gorilla had opened it for him as he tugged the scarf away from his neck, folding it carefully to be placed back in the foyer closet for when he would head back to school within the hour.

"Adrien."

He flinched, feeling his smile ebb away. Didn't Nathalie say Father wouldn't be home until late this evening.

Slowly, he turned, his gaze meeting the ice blue eyes at the top of the stairs. There was a thread of calm in his father's voice that belied the steel beneath it. "Go to your room. You will spend the rest of the day there."

Adrien gaped, his fingernails biting into the handrail. He had to go back. Marinette would be waiting. "But...I have classes this afternoon."

"So you do." With preternatural calm, his father's eyes slowly narrowed, assessing him, before they dropped to the scarlet fabric still in his hands. "But your attendance at the public school is a privilege. One you have clearly abused by failing to follow my rules in my absence by wearing that gaudy scarf."

Adrien scowled on Marinette's behalf. Her work was amazing. "Father, you had no issue with the scarf I was wearing just a few days ago."

"I did not." Gabriel leveled his glare. "But the color matched within reason. Your choices reflect both on our family and the family business."

Adrien's eyes rounded, gasping. "No, father!"

"We have discussed this before. You know very well that scarf was to never leave this house. Your face represents the Gabriel brand. If you cannot abide by the rules I have set out for you, then I cannot trust you to attend classes outside of the house." Gabriel pressed his lips into a thin line, nodding to his chauffeur/bodyguard. "See him to his room."

Scowling, Adrien held fast to that scarf, as he ascended the stairs towards his room, the Gorilla dogging his footsteps.

He grit his teeth. He had to find some way to get out of there.

To get to her.

Staring at the empty desk in front of her did very little to settle her nerves. Marinette tapped her pencil absently upon the desk, until Madame Mendeliev scowled at her pointedly.

With a soft sigh, she dropped her eyes back to the mostly blank pages.

Trying to process her worries had been difficult enough. But for him to not return, after she was sure that he'd revealed himself… Marinette bit her lip. She couldn't help but be worried.

Adrien - Chat Noir - knew her own feelings on the matter. As Ladybug, she'd told him countless times that keeping the secret of their identities was paramount. He certainly didn't know who she was or he would have surely mentioned it already. And she'd always been diligent about transforming out of sight - or at least as the crowd was actively scrambling away from the scene.

She tried to focus - but the better part of the day was likely a lost cause.

A glance over to Alya proved to be encouraging. At least she was able to keep up with the notes.

Wearily, she shut her eyes. All these revelations were draining. It was far more important to keep all her mental reserves just in case Ladybug was needed to protect Paris.

It was hard enough just puzzling out how to save the world.

But now she knew she'd be far more worried about her partner than ever before.

Not even an hour into his afternoon at home, Adrien was literally climbing the walls.

It's not like he could do much of anything else at the moment. Frustrated though he was, he quickly realized that he couldn't leave. He knows exactly where Ladybug would be: in school, sitting just behind where he ought to be.

He didn't dare put his time in school in jeopardy. Nino and Alya, Marinette and even Chloe kept him far happier than he had ever been while stuck behind these walls.

Adrien was sure Nathalie had called the school, but it had only occurred to him between the last few runs that he ought to text Nino to let him know he's grounded.

He wanted Nino to know for sure, but he was really hoping that word would get back to Marinette.

Steadying himself into the top toehold, he pressed his forehead against the wall.

He hated the fact that he still didn't have her number...yet. Or he could have texted her, too.

He could have explained that he wanted to be there...to talk to her.

"Kid. I'm exhausted just watching you." Plagg just sighed, rolling over onto his side on the computer desk after consuming at least two full containers of Camembert.

Glutton that he was, Plagg had at least felt sorry enough for him to offer him a smaller wedge of his Camembert.

Not that he had any interest in the stinky cheese. But the thought did count for something...as did the little bit of softness he'd seen in his kwami's eyes.

Slowly, Adrien climbed back down from the wall. The exertion had his muscles stinging from use and beads of sweat welling on his forehead.

His bangs were plastered to his skin. He grabbed the towel he used to wipe off his hands between attempts, and pressed it to his forehead.

He glared up at the wall, weighing whether or not to take another run.

It kept him busy, but most importantly, it tempered his anger. He still couldn't believe his rotten luck. It just figured. The one day his father would come home early...

He inhaled through his nose, before blowing out a steadying breath.

Anger - true anger - wasn't wise. Not as long as Hawkmoth was still wreaking havoc in Paris.

Adrien hadn't been visited by any butterflies. Not yet.

He didn't even know if he could be Akumatized. But the worry had been clear enough in Plagg's green eyes.

If Hawkmoth did manage it, there was far too great a risk of his powers being used more directly against Ladybug. If he were exposed himself, he would be even more dangerous now that he knew her secret.

Keeping her safe had always been his number one priority. And it always would be. Knowing it was Marinette who had been hiding behind that mask only strengthened his resolve.

So, he kept himself busy, biding his time. Watching to see if he was needed.

Unless Chat Noir was needed, he would just have to sneak away later to try to reassure Marinette.

Jerkily, he slid down the pole, feeling far too sticky for comfort. He definitely needed a shower.

Plagg was inclined to agree, his keen nose wrinkled up in distaste.

Adrien chuckled, pulling the towel around his neck. "Could you watch the Ladyblog for me while I jump in the shower?"

His kwami shrugged. "I kind of was already."

An answer finally came when Nino's phone buzzed inside his bag. Not that he could check it until class had ended for the day. But the moment they were dismissed, he was checking his phone.

"Huh."

Alya peered over his shoulder, half up out of her seat.

Nino frowned, brows furrowed under the shadow of his hat brim. "Looks like Adrien's Dad won't let him come back to school this afternoon."

Alya scoffed. "What does that mean? Does he have a photoshoot or something?"

Shaking his head, Nino's lips pressed into a thin line. "It doesn't say. Which is weird...Adrien usually mentions what is going on."

Marinette set her jaw. She didn't like this. Not at all. But at least she knew where she could find him.

She cleared her throat. "Would you mind if I took Adrien his assignments today?"

Blinking, Nino shrugged as a slow smile spread across his lips, as he spun back around in his seat to pack his bag. "Be my guest."

An uncanny smile was echoed on Alya's lips as she offered a surreptitious high five. "Good on you, girl."

Marinette smiled. "Mind if I grab a copy of your physics notes? I was struggling a little bit."

Smiling, Alya shook her head. "I've got you covered."

"You may not be able to get in, though." Nino reminded. "Not with the dragoness guarding the door."

Marinette smirked. She had a surefire strategy to ensure she would see him this afternoon. "I think I'll take my chances."

Ladybug grinned as the rush of wind ruffled her bangs. There was nothing quite like it to settle her thoughts. Especially as this would be just as challenging for her as any battle with Hawkmoth.

It would mean so much more for her continued partnership with Chat Noir. With Adrien. She had never wanted either boy to be at risk, and now she knew they were actually the same handsome boy.

She was still a little nervous. It wasn't like Adrien knew it was her behind the mask.

The more that she thought about it, the more sure she was that he had only revealed himself to tip the scales. He certainly hadn't planned to find out about her crush on him - as Adrien. But Chat - Adrien - really did have a strong sense of fair play. That uneven playing field must not have sat well with him.

So, he put the one thing they both knew could only belong to him...and set himself in the one place she was sure to be watching.

He already knew she could be trusted with secrets...just not quite how many secrets she was keeping.

And, to an extent, she appreciated his candor.

But the risk was a little too high.

Frowning, she dropped onto a nearby roof, pulling the scarf a little tighter against the chill. The bag on her shoulder was throwing off her usual balance just enough to slow her down.

Not that she minded that much. She didn't know just what to make of this slightly more flirty Adrien.

When he was at his sweetest, Adrien was a hazard to her balance...and her command of the French language.

But a flirty Adrien?

She shivered at the thought. That was bound to have a devastating effect on her mental state.

It had been hard enough trying to not encourage Chat Noir. But she had a very decided weakness to the boy beneath that mask.

And boy, didn't he know it.

Ladybug blew out a shaky breath, hanging from the ledge outside his room. Ready or not, her partner needed to know that she knew who he was.

His hair towel dried, Adrien padded around the room in bare feet, pacing aimlessly.

School had been out for at least a half an hour and he hadn't heard more than a "Sorry to hear it, man" from Nino. He was happy to hear from Nino for sure.

But he had hoped that by now, he would have heard from someone else.

Adrien settled down to the piano bench, wiggling his fingers above the keys as warm up. Since he was stuck here anyways, at least until nightfall, he ought to try to be a little productive.

He was sure to hear it from his instructor otherwise.

He actually could play and quite well...even if his skills were a little bit rusty for all of his secret escapes across the Parisian rooftops. But his fingers had the innate muscle memory from the years and years of diligent practice.

At least they did when he could properly focus.

His shoulders slumped, as his head plonked down onto the keys, sending a discordant noise echoing throughout his room.

A soft breeze wafted the back of his neck...but he didn't register the figure in the window until he heard her chuckle.

Plagg had darted into hiding, purely out of instinct.

His eyes opened wide, joy tugging at his lips. "Ladybug."

If there was a sight she had never expected to see, it was Chat Noir sitting upon the piano bench.

Well, it was technically Adrien sitting at the bench, hunched down over the keys.

Luckily for her, he didn't notice, so she could take it all in unguarded. Ladybug was torn between her usual adoring look at Adrien and the wayward thoughts of her leather-clad partner actually serenading her.

A breathless chuckle slid past her lips at absurdity of it all.

Startled, Adrien sat up quickly, his shocked green eyes darting towards the window.

Only to soften along with a smile that literally made her melt. The fact that he had practically purred her name hadn't helped matters in the least.

Her only saving grace was the fact that he didn't know.

Her hip cocked to the side, channeling every ounce of extra confidence that her mask would allow as she balanced adeptly on the windowsill, her yo-yo looped onto the top of the glass pane. "Adrien Agreste, you are in trouble."

Adrien snorted at that. "So my father tells me."

Her eyes widened, bringing her up a bit short. She had been so sure she was going to catch the cat off balance. Yet already she'd been knocked of hers.

He seemed to have noticed that she was fazed, averting his eyes carefully as he pushed back from the piano bench. "Do you...usually make house calls?"

"Not usually." She dropped onto the floor, tugging the yo-yo free of the glass. She tugged the backpack from her shoulder, rifling out the notebook she'd copied.

"Are those my notes?"

Her eyes grew wide. She nodded, wordlessly handing over the pile of copies.

If he noticed her gaping, he never said a word, letting the smile light up his face as he looked over the notes she had brought. "Thanks. This will really be help me catch back up."

Ladybug's eyes narrowed suspiciously. It puzzled her how he didn't seem to question the situation at all...just accepted that his partner in crime fighting would be thoughtful enough to pick up notes for him.

Or to even be aware that he wasn't in class this afternoon.

"Your friends said you might need it." She stood back up, forcing her tone to be airy and light. "Why were you out of class anyways?"

Adrien just sighed, setting the paperwork down on the piano bench and leaning against the black finish. "My father didn't approve of something I was wearing. It wasn't on his list of outfits he deemed acceptable to wear."

She blinked, trying to remember what he had been wearing earlier. Outside of the scarf she made him, there wasn't anything that stood out. "Your scarf?"

He nodded.

"Why did you wear it, if you knew he'd disapprove?"

Adrien rolled his eyes, before matching his gaze her hers. "Because I didn't expect him to come home so early. And I needed to wear it, at least for a little while."

Ladybug bit her lip. "He really disapproves of it that much?"

The oddest smile crossed his face, less full of Chat Noir's humor but far more expressive than she was ever used to seeing from Adrien himself. "It's funny. He spoke so highly on the quality of the work."

Excited, Ladybug bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Even if he did call the color gaudy."

"Gaudy?" She murmured, incredulous as her face fell. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, schooling her face into a deadpan expression. "I'm sorry, Adrien. Your father has no taste."

His grin widened, too full of cat-like mischief and unchecked mirth. "I know. Have you seen my closet?"

She gaped, unrestrained, her eyes darting over to the wardrobe. Budding fashion designer at heart, that offer - even if it was merely a joke - was just a little too tempting.

But the superhero really shouldn't be reacting to such an offer.

Her balance faltered, arms windmilling as she collected herself, shaking her head. "And he grounded you for that?"

Adrien's expression grew a little more grim, green eyes growing dark as he began to pace. "He's kept me hidden away in here for far less. I just needed to be especially careful right now."

Ladybug crossed her arms, watching him move with unsubtle grace. "Why right now?"

His eyes were pained. "If he took school away from me now, I don't know how I could take it."

She drew in a shaky breath.

"It's meant so much to me to be able to make friends with everyone. I just can't go back to this loneliness. Even if I would get to hang out with you from time to time, it's not enough."

She's worried and fretting. And not hearing everything there.

"Not since I know you sit right behind me."

She gasped, a bit dazed and unfocused as the pieces became clear in her mind. "Adrien?" Finally, she realized it all. That he knew who she was.

"Chaton?"

He nodded, worried as she looked a bit dazed. He frowned, his arm extending out to comfort her, but it was readily apparent that he was the cause of her current distress.

"You know?"

"Who you are?" He nodded. "Yes."

Her blue eyes sharpened, standing to her full height. "How long?"

"Huh?" He answered eloquently. His eyes blew wide, as he wondered if he had badly misjudged his plan after all.

He backed up half a step. She didn't know? But she was really clever at putting the pieces together.

"How long have you known?"

Her arms crossed over her chest, she advanced. Eyes narrowed.

She definitely knew now. But she was not exactly happy. He felt a thrill of fear chase down his spine, bouncing on the balls of his feet by instinct.

There was no one else who knew better just how scary it could be to face off with Ladybug.

How well do cats land on their feet? He thought deliriously, barely stifling an ill-timed smirk as he backed away with her every step forward, his legs knocking back into the wall beside the stairs. "A few days, I think."

"Days?" She huffed, her hand shot out towards him. "Adrien! You've known for days?"

Eyes startled wide, he squeaked, dodging out of the way of her grasp and up the spiral staircase purely on reflex.

Ladybug blew out an angry puff of air, as she pondered just what to do with him as she slowly climbed the stairs in his wake.

She wasn't that scary. Well, maybe she was a little intimidating with the mask. But she'd been practicing that for a fairly long time now.

To be fair, Adrien had put an awful lot at risk for both of them. Even if he did realize he was only outing himself to her for sure.

She really ought to be in trouble for it, but his own father had beat her to the punch in punishing him.

"Wait." Her eyes narrowed, tightening her grip on the handrail. "So that means you knew…when you were visiting my house."

"Uhhh." He paused in backing up, studiously not quite meeting her eyes. "Well, I didn't figure it out the first day."

She hadn't been quite so worried about the first day. This was really more about the last one, when she remembered she had - finally - been open about her crush

And he hadn't even had the decency to come clean then about who he really was.

Her eyes narrowed, mentally entertaining darker thoughts about cats and landing on their feet.

Not that her Chaton would hold up nearly so well outside his transformation.

It was still a bit shocking to consider just how many times she had bodily picked up her crush and tossed him around Paris...and all the while she still couldn't manage to throw herself at him first.

Chat - Adrien - might appreciate the humor of it. Later. When she'd puzzled out just how mad to be about his thoughtless actions.

Ladybug bit the inside of her lip, indecisive. Tikki and Alya had been so sure of his feelings for her (at least with respect to one particular side of the mask), but the doubt and the worry would always be there.

It wasn't that she questioned her own self worth. She had just had her hopes up for so long.

The fact that he hadn't told her just cemented that worry in her mind.

Did he not want her to know? Did he now know how to let her down gently?

Closing her eyes, she steeled herself. Good news or bad, she and Adrien had a commitment to keeping Paris safe. Which meant she had to know what she was dealing with, good news or bad.

"How did you figure it out anyways?"

"Your scarf was sitting on top of your dresser." Adrien nodded to towards her scarf. "Honestly, I almost missed seeing it."

"So without my gift?" Ladybug trailed off.

Adrien smiled softly, finishing her thought. "I never would have connected the dots."

"Huh." She was a little dumbfounded, leaning back against a shelf of CDs.

Adrien's hand drifted to the back of his neck, his shoulders slumped. "I wish I could take the credit for noticing, but it was Father who actually noticed. He was the one who had spotted your initials along the inside edge of the fabric."

The indelicate snort that slipped past her lips gave him a bit of hope that she wasn't quite as angry as he'd feared.

His own lips curved upward. "He was the one who noticed that your work was was the common thread between the two scarves."

"Chat-on," she groaned.

He chuckled happily, leaning against the wall beside her. He would tell her about just how much his Father had complimented the quality of her work later, when she could be just as pleased as she should be with the compliment. "It was what sent me to your house in the first place. To thank you for your gift." His eyes locked with hers, his fingers skimming along his jaw.. "And, to be honest, I was curious if you had learned anything more about Ladybug. Since you were supposed to have been working with her and all."

Her lips were parted slightly, cheeks flushed a soft pink beneath her mask.

She turned away, staring out the large windows. "So, you knew...but you couldn't tell me?"

He blushed. Smiling, he asked her the question that had been plaguing his own mind. "Why didn't you ever tell me about the other scarf you made me?"

"Well," She hedged, feet shuffling slightly. Her proximity to the rail made him worry, just a little bit. "I saw how happy you were, when you thought it had come from your father. I didn't want to take that away from you."

Adrien blinked, crossing his arms over his chest, half offended with the situation on her behalf. "But it was your gift."

"I gave it to you to make you happy." She tilted her head, bright blue eyes slightly rueful. "And it worked...just not quite how I expected it to."

He fidgeted, his brows furrowing. "I still wish you would have told me."

"Adrien..." Ladybug pressed, more firmly this time. "Why couldn't you just tell me that you knew?"

"I tried. You kept thinking I was sick." He stared up at the ceiling, not trusting himself to speak while facing her head on. "For some reason, I kept stumbling over my words, once I figured out who you were."

"Oh." She murmured, her brain slowly connecting the dots. Blinking, she gazed back up and him, nibbling anxiously at her lip.

"And I was a little afraid you might not be happy with who I was, underneath the mask." Glancing away, Adrien felt the blush take over his face. His nails bit into the wooden shelf behind him. "To be honest, I never really understood why you had such a hard time talking to me. I didn't even think that you might actually understand why." He shook his head. "I was trying to get you to react. To understand without me messing up what I really needed to tell you."

"Oh, I was reacting." Ladybug had one arm at her side, the other holding onto it as her nose scrunched up adorably. "You just didn't notice. Somehow."

Plagg agreed, peering throwing the glass railing, . "Yeah. The kid is really good at that."

"Plagg!" Adrien groaned, facepalming.

Blinking, Ladybug walked to the rail reaching her arm out in greeting. "You must be Chat's kwami."

Plagg preened under her attention, melting a little himself as she scratched just behind his ears.

Plagg smirked. "And you must be the one who keeps leaving me stuck with this smitten kitten after you part from patrols each evening."

"Plagg," Adrien hissed, flushing furiously. "Don't you have something else to do?"

"Well, I was watching this really entertaining chase scene." The kwami snickered. "But then you both got boring. Besides, I am still waiting on my popcorn."

Ladybug beamed, far too amused by their antics.

Try as she might, she couldn't entirely stifle her chuckle, even as her partner buried his head in his hands.

Poor Adrien really did seem to have a rougher time of it. Tikki was sweet, if firm, when she needed to be. But Plagg seemed to be proving the rule that cats really are nothing but trouble.

Turning on her, Plagg grinned. "Now, do me a favor and try not to break him, Bug. I know the kid was dragging his feet, but even if you are tempted to toss him around the room, he should really be transformed first. And I haven't had nearly enough cheese today to keep up with that sort of abuse."

He sighed dramatically, half-fainting in her arms. His tiny paw pressed as close to his forehead as the limited length would allow.

Even as amusing as Plagg could be, her eyes snapped to Adrien, the moment she noticed him move out of the corner of her eye.

He definitely had rolled his eyes, pressing his head back against the shelf.

She snorted, grinning in return, as she scratched under Plagg's tiny chin. His eyes slitted, nearly shut as he purred.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Adrien was sullen, pursing his lips.

Her smile only grew as she recognized that face so well. Jealous much, Chaton?

"Poor little kwami." She half-cooed, amusement now plain on her face as Plagg basked under the attention. "Living in this big house. Life must be hard."

"Harder than you might think." The kwami grumbled. "Anyways, do you know how hard it is to find a chosen who can keep up with my Camembert needs?"

She rolled her eyes.

If Plagg noticed, he didn't say a word. "Of course, it would be a pity to have to train another."

She looked over at Adrien, his eyes a little hurt.

"Even if we could find someone else with a close enough match to your skills and powers, he's a good kid."

Ladybug reached over and squeezed Adrien's hand. "I know."

His green eyes lit up, carefully entwining their fingers as he squeezed her hand back. Adrien had that same soft smile that he did on the day he'd handed her his umbrella. The one that had made her heart run the race it hadn't really stopped in more than a year.

But it was the way he murmured, "My Lady," that had left her breathless.

Gulping, she inhaled an unsteady breath.

"Besides...you should have heard him for days...moaning and carrying on..."

Adrien's face went ashen. "Plagg!"

"After he had figured out who you were-"

Panicked, Adrien dropped her hand, desperate and frustrated enough to call for a transformation just to silence him "Plagg! Transfo-"

Ladybug reached out, tugging him into a hug. "It's okay, Kitty."

Adrien's words died on his lips, as she pulled him into her arms. Shocked, he tensed up for the briefest moment before he carefully wound his arms around her back, just above her waist.

Embarrassed, he dropped his forehead onto her shoulder, to mask the blush that burned all the way to the tips of his ears.

His eyes slid closed, savoring the moment for however long Marinette might allow it.

He barely even noticed Plagg's annoyed groan as he flitted away back to the computer desk.

In fact, he barely noticed anything until she had slowly pulled back.

Shocked at the loss of her warmth, he opened his eyes.

"That's for being sweet."

Then, she smacked him on the shoulder. "And that's for being dumb."

"Ow!" Adrien grumbled, his right hand lifting to massage his shoulder.

"Don't you know how reckless that was?" Her eyes narrowed. "Do you know how I've had to fend off Alya?"

He winced. "Sorry about that. It wasn't like I was trying to reveal myself to anyone else but you."

To his never-ending joy, Ladybug - Marinette - was still blushing a little bit, even in spite of her own annoyance.

He bit the inside of his lip, wondering if she was going to drop her own transformation.

"By the way, if Alya asks, you totally used puppy dog eyes to get me to make you that scarf."

"Don't you mean kitten eyes?" Adrien grinned.

She rolled her eyes. "No. Definitely not."

His lips curved further. He had expected no less. "What about smitten kitten eyes?"

Ladybug faltered, blushing prettily as she tore her eyes back towards the window.

Adrien's eyebrows rose. That was new.

Her eyes narrowed, "This is serious, Kitty."

Adrien frowned, watching her pace the walkway.

"I really am more worried about how knowing will affect us both when we really need to have our heads in the game. You've taken so many hits for me. We've had so many close calls. I'm not sure how well my heart could bear knowing that it's you that keeps getting hurt."

He smiled, ruefully. "It's not like I am trying to get hurt, you know. It's just better that I take the hit, so you can use your powers."

The hurt plain in her too-blue eyes was like a punch to the gut, a feeling he'd come to know all too well. He pressed his lips into a thin line. "We already know that Hawkmoth is not about to let up. But without you, there would be no hope for any of us."

Her gaze broke away with a rough exhale, grasping the rail. "Just promise me that you'll try not to take risks like that. I'm still not sure I'm okay with knowing."

"Ladybug?"

"Yes?"

His brows wrinkled. "Are you unhappy? That I am Chat Noir?"

Ladybug wheeled around, blinking. "With you?" She shook her head without hesitation.. "No. Never."

"You're okay?" He tilted his head.

She paused before nodding. "Yeah. I'm just going to worry more now."

"You shouldn't worry on my account." Relieved, Adrien stretched as he stepped away from the bookcase, pulling a Chat-like grin. "It's just me."

Ladybug fussed with the edge of one pigtail, her eyes focused on the floor. "You say that, but it's never really been just you." Her nose wrinkled up adorably. "Not that you didn't already figure that out. I'm just trying to get myself used to the idea."

"Couldn't you drop the mask, even just for a little while?" His feet shuffled. "It would be easier to talk."

She nibbled at her lip. "And we should talk. It's just that it is a little easier to talk to you from behind the mask. Courage flows a little more easily with it in place."

Plagg shouted from the desk below. "I wouldn't mind seeing my old friend either."

Wincing at the noise, Adrien lead her back down the stairs and over towards the window. He had been lucky that no one had come to check on him so far. But now they were making too much noise. "You should probably go."

"Huh."

"And come back in the normal way." He smiled. "Through the front door."

She frowned, uncertain. "Nino said there was no way I'd get past your father's secretary."

He grinned. "Nathalie can't stop you, if I'm there to answer the door first."

Her jaw dropped. "But aren't you in trouble?"

He shrugged. "I am staying on the property. The scarf is off, and I am going to pick up the homework I missed in following Father's orders. Nathalie will want to know that someone brought me my assignments at least. And if Nathalie turns you away, you could always drop back in and do your own homework here. If your parents are okay with it."

"If you're sure."

Adrien nodded. "I am. I'd rather not take any chances that someone might come in and check on me."

She pulled her yo-yo from the bandalore.

"You don't think your father would take issue with you having a girl in your room?"

Adrien smiled, opening the window so she could head back outside. She was dragging her feet. And so was he. He didn't really want her to leave at all. "I don't really think that father could truly protest the company. As far as he would know, it's just for schoolwork and not secret superhero business."

Plagg cleared his throat. "And speaking of…"

The yo-yo rumbled in Ladybug's hand, a Ladyblog alarm notification filling the screen.

They looked at each other, resigned. "Duty calls, my Lady."

She rolled her eyes. "Duty has some impeccable timing."

He grinned. "Plagg, Transform Me."

Ladybug watched in awe as Plagg spiraled into the ring, as Adrien punched the air and posed, the leather suit chasing down his limbs in a few seconds.

She gaped at him, wide-eyed at the pose he still held.

Chuckling, he leaned in closer. "Impressed, Bugaboo?"

Ladybug snorted, barely stifling a laugh. She pressed him back on the nose. "Now I know you have to be Chat. Who else knew you could be such a dork?"

Chat Noir winked. "But your dork."

She blushed, but didn't even bother to deny it, quietly fussing with re-adjusting the black and green scarf around her neck. Instead she turned her determined gaze out the window, winding up her yo-yo to snag the ledge of roof across the way. "C'mon, Chaton. Paris awaits."

When he didn't respond with his usual quip, she looked back.

His grin widened when those blue eyes locked with his, never dropping from hers as he offered a half bow. "Right behind you, my Lady."

Ladybug smiled softly, pretty pink blush still on her cheeks as she tugged the string, propelling herself out into the growing dusk.

Baton extended, Chat Noir felt his own cheeks warm, never more ready to follow her into battle.

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! This has been so much fun to write and your support and encouragement has been such a joy! 3