Hey there! This is my first fan fiction, although I hope to write lots more in the future. I was introduced to Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir not long ago, and I instantly fell in love. One aspect that always annoyed me (in the sense that I wished it would just happen already) was the whole big identity reveal. I mean, just get it over with already. Anyway, this is my interpretation.

Obviously I don't own any characters or anything- I mean, I thought that was a given but apparently not.

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Chat Noir sighed in content- he'd been waiting for this day for a long time.

It had been the usual afternoon, Hawkmoth had sent an akuma (another one of Chloe's victims), but it had been a simple fight, and was over quickly.

Ladybug seemed happier than usual, but Chat Noir avoided the subject, knowing that if he asked, her mood would be ruined. He was generally safe, as long as he stuck to vague questions, akumas, and cat puns- although lately, Ladybug has developed a habit of slapping him whenever he made one. Not so safe, he thought. Either way, he was satisfied to just be near her a moment longer.

After the battle, Chat Noir and Ladybug has found themselves on the roof of a building, overlooking the Seine. "Good job today, M'Lady," He said cheerfully. She smiled, shaking her head at the pet name. Chat Noir sat on the edge of the roof, legs dangling over the side. His miraculous beeped, and he glanced down at his hand with a frown. He'd been forced to use his Cataclysm to destroy the akuma. He ignored it. "Want to sit?" He asked Ladybug hopefully, motioning to the space beside him.

When she shook her head he wasn't surprised, but no matter how many times he got rejected, he was still disappointed. He turned back to the view, expecting her to swing away, but instead she sat down beside him. "Change of heart?" He asked, grinning. His heart was flying. "I've got a few minutes left," she answered, shrugging. Chat Noir felt it was something else that had made her stay that night; there'd been fights were neither of them had used any special powers, and she'd never chosen to stay before. "I'm just too meow-vellous to deny," he said dismissively, "I'm just pawsome."
"That's too pathetic to even warrant punishment," she told him, laughing, "But you're right- and don't let this get to your head- but you are pretty awesome."

Chat Noir basked in the complement, feeling warmth flood his body. "You're not bad yourself," He told her. She let her head fall onto his shoulder, and Chat Noir stifled a purr, not wanting to startle her. He guessed her reaction wouldn't be the best.

Both of their miraculouses beeped at the same time, and he noticed that hers was on its last spot. He jumped away from her, ready to run if he had to. "You're about to detransform! I'll go, you stay-" She held up a hand to stop his panic. It did nothing to calm his racing heart. Ladybug didn't look upset at all, she just stood up to face him, smiling. Chat Noir could see the conflict in her eyes. "It's okay, kitty," she told him, "I've been thinking about this a lot."

Chat Noir stopped breathing. Thinking about- "Thinking about what?" He asked, confused. She looked away, "You trust me, don't you?" She paused, before adding, "It's okay if you don't." Chat Noir caught her eye, making her look at him so she'd know he wasn't lying. "I trust you with my life. I always have." He told her, still puzzled. Surprise, then determination filled her eyes, "Then in a minute I'm going to detransform. I'll reveal my identity."

Chat Noir couldn't move. She was going to reveal her identity. To him. He tried to get words out, but his mouth was suddenly bone dry. He was going to find out who the girl he loved was.

"Tikki-"
"Wait!" He said, suddenly able to move, "Are you sure you want to do this? Keeping our identities secret has always been so important to you," He realised it had been anxiety for her wellbeing that had shaken him from his stupor. He would have done anything to protect her, even denied the chance to see the girl beneath the mask. "And it is," she said, and Chat Noir thought she'd changed her mind. "But not from you. This is a secret we can share," Chat Noir felt gratitude fill him up- she trusted him, even though it was dangerous. Chat Noir didn't think anyone had even trusted him like that. Tears threatened to overflow in his eyes, so he just nodded. Ladybug looked concerned for a moment, "We don't have to do this-" He stopped her, "No, it's not that. It's just that I don't think anyone has ever believed in me like that before." She didn't respond, but her expression revealed it all.

"Tikki, spots off," Ladybug said. A second later, Chat Noir said, "Plagg, claws in."

Adrien almost laughed, but not from mocking, from surprise. "Marinette?" He asked. She looked just as shocked, and began to blush furiously, "Adrien?"

"I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see someone I knew," he said. Marinette didn't meet his eyes, adopting the awkward demeanour she seemed to always have around him. "I- I didn't think it was going to be you either," she said quietly. Marinette's kwami flew near her ear whispering something to her, that looked like encouragement. In his shock had warn off enough for his thoughts to come rushing back. He loved Ladybug, and Ladybug was Marinette, which meant he loved Marinette. He'd never thought of Marinette like that before, at least he'd never allowed himself to think like that. He'd always felt guilty when he felt anything other than friendship for Marinette, but there had been times when Adrien could admit he'd felt something for her. "Hey Adrien, hey Marinette. I'm hungry," Plagg said, floating in front of his face, and distracting him from Marinette for a second. Adrien fished in his pocket for the piece of Camembert he'd put there earlier. "Here. And why don't you go make some friends?" He suggested, motioning to Marinette's kwami.

Plagg laughed, "Tikki? Me and her go way back." He turned to Tikki, "You want some cheese?" The tiny, red kwami looked up from Marinette, only to scowl at Plagg. "You know I hate Camembert, Plagg." She said, coming closer, "It's probably your constant consumption of the foul stuff. Come over here, and we'll share a cookie," Plagg complied, muttering something about sticking to cheese, and the two kwamis floated to the side to eat.

"I can't believe you're Chat Noir," Marinette said, making Adrien look away from the kwamis. "Of all the people, it had to be you," Adrien was slightly hurt, not understanding her tone, "Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, of course not!" She said, her words coming in a rush, "I just-" She glanced at her kwami, who smiled at her. A look passed between them that Adrien couldn't decipher. "I just was surprised, that's all," Tikki stared daggers at her, face palming. Plagg gave him a withering look that made him think he was missing something obvious. "You are blind, kid," Plagg turned him, finishing his cheese, "Absolutely blind." Tikki shook her head, chastising him quietly.

"Well, I have to go," He said, smiling at Marinette, who was staring at him. He frowned, confused by what he saw. He could tell that she was fighting something; he wondered whether now she knew who he was, she was disappointed. Adrien didn't know what he had expected when they found out each other's identities; but this had been very anticlimactic. Marinette has barely said a word since their transformations, and she looked so uncertain now. Did she regret it?

"Bye, Marinette," He said, Plagg coming towards him, "Plagg, claws out." He extended him baton, pushing himself to the next rooftop, and then the next. By the time he was home, Adrien had managed to convince himself that Marinette had wanted Chat Noir to be someone else. He detransformed in an alley way, and didn't stop to talk to Plagg, who had to try to catch up.

"Woah, wait Adrien." Plagg floated in front of Adrien's face, but Adrien stepped around him. Plagg flew in his way again. "What, Plagg?" He asked, not looking at his kwami. Wasn't he good enough? He thought that he and Marinette were friends. Even if she never loved him back, Adrien knew that he would have loved whoever was under the mask. Apparently, he wasn't even good enough to be Marinette's friend anymore. "Adrien, that's not why she acted like that!" Plagg said, "Anyone else would have seen it already, and you would have to, if u were just a little more perceptive. Please, you have to stop thinking like that, or you'll get akumatised," For a moment, Adrien managed to control himself, the fear of akumatisation outweighing his self-loathing.

It wasn't long before it overcame him again. "Then why, Plagg?" Adrien asked, instantly feeling guilty when he saw his kwami's dismay. "I can't tell you that," Plagg told him, and Adrien could see that he regretted his words as he said them, "Only Marinette can tell you that. Tikki would flay me."

Adrien ignored Plagg's attempt at a joke, walking towards his house. His emotions still swirled within him, and he knew it was dangerous, but he could barely hold back his tears as it was, never mind get rid of them all together. He went through the front door, not answering Natalie's greeting, going straight to his room.

He collapsed on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Adrien," a voice said, someone coming into his room, "Are you okay?" He couldn't bring himself to look at the speaker, feeling completely empty, and too full all at once. What was wrong with him? Why didn't Marinette want him?

The speaker sat at the foot of his bed. "Talk to me, Adrien." He recognised the voice at once. Natalie. He sat up, looking at his hands, "I can't." She looked at him sadly, and hesitated for a moment. Adrien wondered what she was thinking about. She moved closer to him, pulling him into her arms. The hug was so unexpected that Adrien stiffened for a moment, but let her hold him. The show of affection was so different from Natalie's usual emotionlessness, that he didn't know how to react. He'd couldn't remember the last time someone had held him like that.

All at once, his emotions seemed to well up, and he sobbed, hardly able to breathe. This rejection was worse than any before. And the more he cried, the less hope Adrien had. Natalie said nothing, not asking him any more questions, or for an explanation. Once he had nothing left to cry, he felt his head droop, exhaustion taking over. Only just awake, Adrien felt Natalie ease him out of her arms and into his bed. "Goodnight, Adrien," she whispered, spreading a blanket over him.

When she was gone, Plagg curled up near his face. Adrien got the impression that Plagg thought he was sleeping. He looked deep in thought, "Please, if there is a god, protect him. Give her courage." Plagg pleaded, he looked to the sky, whispering, "Please."

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I'm hoping to continue this into at least one more chapter. Please leave reviews as I love getting feedback on how to get better :)