Marinette pulled the covers up to her chin and stared at her bedroom ceiling. Tikki snored on her shoulder, and had been for quite some time – but Marinette laid awake in her bedroom, mind racing against the confusing love triangle she realized she'd found herself in.

She had had a crush on Adrien for so long – so long, but now it felt like she barely even knew him. It felt like she barely even knew Chat, too, who she'd considered one of her best friends in the entire world.

She couldn't feel the same about either of them. It felt weird to even try feeling the same about either of them.

But he still didn't know who she was, and it was tearing her up inside; what would Adrien do if he knew his lovely Ladybug was just Marinette? The concept of disappointing him with her identity made her want to cry all over again, but she'd run out of tears hours ago.

She rolled over in her bed, fingers clutching the sheets tightly as she tried to keep her breathing steady. Don't upset yourself again¸ she warned herself, you know it's not worth it. Everyone will see your puffy eyes tomorrow at school and Alya will worry –

And then a knocking, from her window. She willed herself not to move, to stay still – it was Chat Noir and she knew it was Chat Noir, because who else would it be? Did he know? Did he figure it out? It would be easy enough – she looked like herself even dressed as Ladybug, and so did Adrien (she'd already chastised herself for not figuring it out sooner) – "Marinette!"

She sat up and Tikki yelped, ducking under Marinette's pillow. Marinette walked to the window and pushed it open, glaring at Chat Noir in the dark. "It's like three in the morning, Chat! What in the world do you want?"

"I need to talk to you about Ladybug – she's worrying me!" He replied, pressing his back against her building. He stood on a thin ledge, looking down at her; he flashed her a toothy grin and pointed inside. "Please?"

She hesitated before shaking her head and sighing, moving out of the way – he was worried about her and him standing on that thin ledge made her nervous. She'd left him so frequently that she realized maybe he deserved her time of day – just for a minute, anyways.

"Thank you, Marinette." He sighed, slipping through the window and landing on her bedroom floor quietly. "Can I sit?"

"Sure." She replied, shutting the window and crossing her arms. He sat down on the edge of her bed and watched her; she stayed by the window, still.

"Can I have a croissant?" He asked quietly, and she rolled her eyes and walked towards him.

"No, Chat. I'm exhausted and I have school in the morning. I'm sure you have school, too, and that means we both don't have time for this." She rambled, and he pressed his lips together in a line for a moment before sighing and looking up at her.

"Ladybug knows who I am and – she's been acting so odd lately. She keeps abandoning me and she won't talk to me and I'm so worried about her. I don't want her to think she can't trust me! I don't – I don't need to know who she is. I would love to, but that's – if she doesn't want to tell me, I don't need to know. I just want my Lady to be happy and she is not and I do not know what to do, Marinette. Have you talked to her? Has she said anything to you?" He rambled, and Marinette unfolded her arms and looked away, fidgeting with her hands.

She hadn't expected Chat to care so much – even if he was one of her best friends. Even if he was totally in love with Ladybug, which she knew he was (though she'd never let him admit it). Marinette shook her head and glanced down at Chat.

"She hasn't said a word to me about any of that. I think you overestimated how close we are." Marinette replied, and Chat Noir stood up quickly and grabbed her shoulders firmly in his palms.

"Marinette, if she says anything to you – please tell me. I cannot stand to see her so upset."

"Of course." Marinette breathed, staring up at him. He enclosed her in a tight hug, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before hugging him back, pressing her face into his shoulder.

She hadn't expected herself to miss the closeness of him, the warmth of his touch. He let go and she held on for just a moment longer before releasing him, immediately walking to the window and reopening it. He walked toward it and stopped in front of her, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of her palm. "Thank you, Marinette."

Her cheeks flushed and she saw him as Adrien, not Chat – gentle, serious, wonderful Adrien in a cat suit. He stepped out of the window and she waved to him, Adrien, as he stood atop the ledge. "Goodnight, Adrien!"

A slip of the tongue. The world stopped turning for a moment, and Chat turned to stare at Marinette as she stared at him.

The world resumed turning, and Adrien stared at Ladybug. She'd always left him hanging; always left him on the edge of his seat, wondering where she was going. She'd caused him to lose sleep, and in that moment, Chat felt nothing. He leapt from the edge of the building as Marinette yelled after him to wait and that she was sorry, but he felt nothing; nothing.

Marinette thought she was out of tears, but in a minute she found herself swimming in an ocean. She closed the window and sank to the ground. Tikki brought a tissue and whispered to her, nuzzling in her hair and trying desperately to comfort her.

Marinette knew, in these moments, her lie had been too big. She'd lied to him too much. She probably lost him forever.

Probably.