It was a warm Paris night when Ladybug and Chat Noir were encamped on the top of the Eiffel Tower. Hawkmoth was no longer a threat and even more villains had come and gone, threatening the safety of the ones they loved.
But it was only recently, that Tikki and Plagg had agreed it was safe to unmask to each other.
Too many close calls and too many near misses made maintaining the facade more counterproductive than sensible. Too much had passed between them for either to be in doubt of their trust for one another.
And so they had agreed to meet near midnight on the tower, food for their Kwami on hand to help the transform back and get down.
Chat Noir bounced on his heels. He had been anxiously awaiting this day for years now, desperate to put a name to the Lady behind the mask, even arriving fifteen minutes ahead of the agreed upon time to rehearse.
Ladybug bit her lip, fidgeting slightly. "Who should go first?"
He smiled softly. "I can if you'd like."
She closed her eyes, inhaling carefully to bolster her courage before she'd nodded. "Okay. I'm ready."
He shut his eyes, allowing the magic to wash away in the rush of green light.
He'd played out the scenario so often in his mind that he was sure he knew what she was sure to say. How she was sure to look.
His eyes slid open, finally noticing how pale her face was. How her fingers gripped the yo-yo in her hands anxiously.
"My Lady?" He whispered, brows furrowing.
His hand reached out, falling unsure at his side as she flinched.
Adrien was unsure what to make of her painful silence as she'd marched to the edge of the rail, staring at glittering Paris skyline.
He'd taken a few tentative steps to stand beside her, spotting glimmering teardrops welling in her eyes.
"Sorry," she'd murmured, sending her yo-yo flying to the metal rail above.
Adrien blinked, confused what his Lady had been planning to do.
Her wistful stained glass eyes turned back to him for only a moment. "I'm just a friend."
He froze, his stomach falling with her as she leapt off of the tower.