A/N: i know this is incredibly late, but the situation at the minute is actual madness. let me take this opportunity to say that my thoughts are with you all during this time, i hope you are all keeping safe and are doing well. again, I've been busy with school work and i only found the time now to get this chapter up. for anyone who actually cares, will ladybug spill to cat noir? expect the unexpected.

Chapter 20 - It's Time Pt.2

She inhaled another deep breath.

"Around maybe this time last year, I had gone to the hospital due to some hearing problems."

Hearing problems?

"I have absolutely no idea what had caused it. I don't feel comfortable sharing the reason I had been through," she shared a petit giggle. "Anyway, my parents took me and from that day it's been endless hospital trips, a few surgeries here and there and nothing's worked."

My heart is aching for her...

Rapid beeps later, she continued opening up, despite her identity being exposed.

She's her civilian self now...

"I'm sorry I kept you in the dark for a while, kitty. I had this awful gut feeling that if I told you, you'd hate me. I know, I wouldn't want to have a deaf partner either." Tears started to stream slowly until her mind told her to release more. "From the first day I had met you, I felt like I wasn't good enough to be your friend, let alone your partner."

I need to talk to her, but I need more answers first.

"When Tikki came along to give me my miraculous, it was truly one of the greatest moments. It's unknown why, but I'm able to hear the beautiful sounds of our world when I'm Ladybug. I'm able to hear you, my best friends, my parents... but as myself, without the mask, I still remain as deaf."

So she can't hear me right now...

"So, yeah, that's about it. I know I can't hear you right now and that breaks my heart. I need Tikki to be recharged so I can get home."

Cat Noir decided to turn 180, facing away from his lady, and slowly removed his blindfold. Then, the tiny rose creature ate at her scrumptious cookie, whilst the cat was staring into the darkness, way too deep in thought.

Could she really be? No, don't even think about that! It would be way easier if she gave me a name. I can't believe she would think all that, especially about me! Why would she think I'd hate her? I need to help her...

When Marinette finished her little open up about her feelings, Tikki emerged from nowhere. She felt energetic again. But before she would transform her chosen, she flew up to Cat Noir.

In a daze. That's all he was in. His emerald eyes locked his pitch black ring. What can I do?

His daze vanished when he heard a petit and squeaky voice. "Hello!"

Cat's eyes suddenly widened at the cute sight in front of him; she was just like Plagg! "Erm, hello! Are you Ladybug's kwami? It's just you look exactly like-"

"Plagg? Yeah, we get that comparison a lot. I am Tikki, Ladybug's kwami."

Just at the mention of his partner, he dropped his head with confusion. It was noticeable as Tikki asked, "Are you okay?"

His eyes almost told her he had never heard that question before; he never got checked upon. "I... I'll have to be."

"But you don't have to be! It's okay not to be okay. That's what I tell Ladybug every day."

Struggling to hold back his tears, Cat whispered, "I'm expected to be though. My life revolves around me putting on a fake smile 24/7. It's hard. My dad requires me to juggle a lot of unnecessary hobbies along with school and my paid work. It's all too much." Tears eventually trickled down his tomato cheeks and he quietly sobbed. It was a rare occasion he had permission from his mind to have a cry; the tears had clearly been locked up for too long.

Tikki rested her rosy pink paws onto his damp cheek. She spoke up, "I'm so sorry. I know you'd rather tell Ladybug that but if you want me to tell her..."

"No, don't worry. I think I'd rather tell her in the future, maybe when we know our identities or possibly when her hearing is better."

"Don't worry. She's getting better. I know she is."

XXXXX

Back at the bakery, it was obvious that Sabine was more worried than Natalie about the blond model. The fact he was nowhere to be seen really put her job on the line. Again, she was not going to get fired for a missing boy.

Tom entered the living room after having a relaxing bath, whilst he knew Sabine was still trying to help find her future son-in-law. He looked at the woman with fear as he knew... still nothing. "Still nothing?"

"No," Sabine shook her head. Their small moment got interrupted by an aggressive knock at the door. "Who could be here so late at night?" the woman wondered. She walked over and grabbed the shiny doorknob, to reveal an unexpected guest. The bright white hair slicked back, the very tall figure, the most familiar brand logo. She knew.

"Gabriel Agreste? What are you doing here?" she asked.

Standing coldly, he replied, "No words, please. I just want a few moments with you."

XXXXX

There was still a really awkward silence that refused to die down. By this point, Tikki had snuggled beside her chosen, patiently waiting to transform. "Are you okay?" she asked Marinette. After a sign of frustration, she confessed. "No."

Cat Noir's ears perked up at the tiny word utter. His face twisted with confusion; this was the first time he heard her speak, without the mask. Yet, she claimed before that she couldn't hear her. She just responded to Tikki.

"So, you can hear? Without the mask?"

Oh, shoot!

Tikki flew over, lying to defend Marinette. "She can only hear me, without the mask. When in the mask, she can hear every sound on Earth. I only asked if she was okay before, but... it's complicated."

In the bluenette's head, she didn't want her partner to know about that small revelation she had in her room with him. She needed time to figure out why her hearing around him was starting to rise, so for now she wants him in the dark for a little while longer. Just until she has some things worked out.

"I-I mean, I'm kind of in shock. It's alright if she's transformed, but if we ever found out... Tikki, what would happen? If she got hurt and she didn't know what was happening? I really want to protect her." He knew he'd be committed to this one hundred percent; he was already doing his protecting duty for Marinette.

"You are both protecting each other. Yes, she might have a harder job, but she will pull through. She's been Ladybug for almost three months now and she's made progress. Just believe me when I say that the two of you will be just fine." Despite having his doubts, he believed her.

Tikki flew back over to her owner and signalled that she was ready to transform again. "Spots on." Marinette whispered.

She stood up and looked over at Cat Noir, walking over with the biggest fear in her eyes. She told him, "I need to head home, I don't want my parents to worry. I'll tell Master you're ready to be healed now."

Her body rotated one hundred and eighty to walk away, before she got pulled back by her partner. "I-I just wanted to tell you," he sighed, "you being deaf as you're civilian self does not change you. You're still my partner, still the girl I adore deeply and I will be here, by your side. One hundred and ten percent, I will not leave you."

Giving him a small smile, she thanked him. "You're one of the most important people to me. And I can't wait to spend more time with you."

XXXXX

Being interrogated was really not fun. Who knew Gabriel could be so intimidating?!

He had sat the worried parents down at their dining table, him being sat directly across them and he was just finishing up his interview.

"You're sure he left at around seven o'clock?" Gabriel checked for clarification.

"Yes. Marinette was ill so she didn't join us for dinner but we let him stay because we enjoy his company. He's a well behaved teenager, Gabriel. You should be proud of him."

Replying unenthusiastically, he said, "Oh, yes. So, he ran out when the akuma attacked?"

"Yes. He ran out and claimed he had to go back home, but obviously he didn't."

"I see. Well, I'll leave my business and personal phone number here. He's so fond of you both, I don't see a reason why he wouldn't come back here. But if he does, phone me immediately and I'll send the Gorilla over for him."

Up in her room, Marinette was ready to fall asleep. She found herself slowly preparing to go to sleep but never realised Tikki had went over to eavesdrop on what the crime scene was downstairs. Once Gabriel had left, Tikki cautiously went over to her chosen, who was all snuggled up in bed.

"Marinette! I need to tell you something. It's bad, really really bad!"

She shot up from her bed, quite curious. "Wait, what's going on?"

"Gabriel came over to speak to your parents because apparently Adrien never went home after dinner with your parents. He's gone!"

A/N: so yeah, who knows when the next update will be? but i know exactly what will happen, so let's see if my school will give me a break so i can continue this story. also there may or may not be some ladrien over the next few chapters ;) hope you all liked this chapter!