This was something that came to me as I went through MLB fanfictions. There was one by TheNovelArtist where Nino and Alya acted out the love square for class and it got me thinking on something else. So using the class assignment idea, I went about questioning the thing the creators basically demand of the audience. Why doesn't anyone recognize our heroes? =^-^=

Ch. 1 - Paper-Thin Disguise

When Ms. Bustier announced the classes newest assignment would be an essay, the groans that chorused after came to no surprise. When she next revealed it would be done in pairs and that the students could pick, she couldn't help grinning at the cheers. With all the Akumas popping up in the class she really wanted her students to do something fun. On the other hand, she was a teacher so it also had to be educational. "Now I have here a list of common theatrical tropes. You may be surprised by some of these, and realize you've seen them a hundred times before. I want each pair to come up with and analyze three different examples of it in their essays. If you're unsure of an example, just come to me. If you can argue a good reason then I don't see any problems." She explained as she held up the sheet. She then placed it on her desk. "Now, as soon as you have your partner, you may come up and choose a topic. Please sign both names so I can keep track of who is working with who."

"Yo, dude?" Nino called to his friend with a raised fist.

Adrien turned his head to see the gesture. It took him all of a second to return it. "Sure, sounds good."

Nino jumped up and both ended up being the second pair in line. "I guess I shouldn't feel insulted you chose Adrien over me?" Alya teased her boyfriend with Marinette standing right behind. Adrien chuckled at the tease seeing Nino shrug with a grin. What he didn't see, though, was the wink they shared. To be fair, however, would he have even understood it? Probably not.

"Come on dude, right here." Nino pointed to where he'd already signed his name.

"Hold on, did you pick one already?" Adrien asked having missed it.

"Yeah, don't worry. It's definitely going to be a fun topic." Once they got away from the line of students at the desk, they sat down at their own and Nino held out the prompt paper. "Here, check it out and tell me I didn't pick the best one."

"Paper-Thin Disguise?" The model read out curiously. "A character dons a disguise so transparent that the other characters should recognize them, but don't." He read out feeling amused in so many ways. "Oh, you're right. This sounds awesome." He agreed handing it back to Nino.

"I know right? I even already have the first example." The darker skinned teen declared as he pulled out a notebook.

"Superman." Adrien raised a brow at the idea, but couldn't disagree. "Good point. I can think of a few myself." He responded thinking of a few anime he used to watch.

With permission from his father since this was a school assignment, Adrien brought Nino into his room so they could start their paper. "Dude, every time I see your room it feels even bigger."

Adrien blushed a bit and walked over to his desk. "Yeah?... Anyway, why don't we get started?" He tried to direct since talking about how impressive his room was always got him embarrassed.

"Sure, I even brought some references I got from the library during lunch." Nino pulled out a few books, one being an obvious volume of manga.

"Alright, but why don't we start with Superman? That is what you mentioned before right?"

Nino nodded. "Yeah, I even found it in here." He held out one of the books titled, "Comics: Attributes of a Subculture Giant" and placed it on the desk before pulling up another seat. "It's got a good chapter on the idea." He flipped it open to show where he marked it.

"Clark Kenting?" Adrien read aloud. "I guess that makes sense since he's basically what most people think of when you mention super hero."

"Yeah, but I was still surprised to find out it was actually a thing. I mean it does make sense. Clark Kent is basically Superman in a suit and glasses."

Adrien couldn't stop the laugh he felt picturing that. "Yeah, and then the scenes where he's about to transform and turns out he was wearing the suit under the 'suit'." The blonde teen joked with air quotes.

"Well he has a day job unlike Batman." Nino pointed out while equally amused.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, he probably doesn't have time to change or any number of secure hiding places to put his costume for when he needed it." The musician explained.

"True, but just because you're rich, doesn't mean being a super hero is easy." Adrien countered feeling very close to that one himself. "I mean it would be hard for someone that rich to just sneak off right?"

Nino nodded as he rubbed his chin. "But at the same time he wouldn't need to worry too much about being missed right? No boss, or in the case of Batman, he could spend all night out since he didn't have to work." He finished with a reasoning tone.

"I guess." Adrien agreed with a shrug. "He's an adult plus he only lives with a butler... I think?" It was hard to say sometimes.

"So an incredibly reclusive billionaire who is secretly a super hero?" Nino began to think aloud. "You think Ladybug or Chat Noir could be one?"

That caught Adrien off guard and nearly had him falling from his chair. "W-what?!"

Nino laughed at his friend's reaction. "Chill dude, it was just a thought. I couldn't help thinking of your dad just now, but I already know there's no way he's Chat Noir." He explained much to Adrien's relief.

"Right, my dad secretly being a super hero? Good one." He joined in amusement.

"I thought so. Anyway, back on topic? Batman's cool and all, but he doesn't really seem like a good example of a Paper-Thin Disguise." Nino then brought attention back to the book where other pop culture examples were listed. The list was surprisingly long though the longer they went over it, the longer it seemed to make perfect sense.

"I guess that one was obvious too since they both had the same crazy hair style."

"But he's the main character so of course he has crazy hair." Nino then gestured to one of the picture examples of a hero in a domino mask. "Hey, why don't we draw on a domino mask and play 'Spot the main character' or something." Both boys laughed at the idea.

"Or even without one." Adrien gestured to the manga Nino had brought depicting a blonde magical girl. "I can't believe you borrowed that."

"Hey, it was a good example. I mean seriously? How does she even get her hair into those meatball buns? When she transforms they look like head lights." Nino argued trying to keep a straight face.

Adrien was already failing as he gripped his sides. "I don't know, but seriously? How does no one recognize her? Same voice, same face, and obviously the same hair. I swear the characters are blind."

Nino shrugged. "Well the point of the trope is that the other characters can't tell, but the audience can." He then started writing a few note points indicating that this was going to be their second example.

"So basically the author just wants you to roll with it even though it's ridiculous." Adrien mused as he too wrote out some notes on the character he could think of as he looked over the book.

"Well maybe not." Nino proposed. "I mean, not that Ladybug and Chat Noir have weird hair or anything, but I'm surprised no one's recognized them." He didn't seem to notice how Adrien tensed up at the comment. "I mean, their appearance doesn't look like it changed too much. I'm surprised someone who knows them in daily life hasn't accidentally ousted them or something." Nino chuckled at his own passive remark, but Adrien couldn't keep his thoughts together all of a sudden. He even swore he stopped breathing at some point, but played off his cough for just needing a drink. After asking Nino if he wanted one, he made his way out of the room to hopefully calm down and not give himself away.

Even after Nino left, Adrien couldn't stop his mind from going over what they'd talked about before. He paced in front of his bathroom mirror which quickly got the attention of his exasperated kwami. "Alright, what's wrong now kid? You're starting to worry me." Adrien turned Plagg, but quickly looked back at the mirror. He eyed himself carefully before running his fingers through his hair, mussing it up in the process. Plagg raised a brow. "Uh... you going somewhere tonight?" He wondered knowing they didn't have patrol. Adrien shook his head while still looking at himself in the mirror with an expression of terror slowly forming. "Okay then... what? Guessing is too much trouble when I could be having cheese instead." Plagg grumbled, secretly more worried than he let on.

"I look like Chat Noir." Adrien finally revealed as he leaned his hands on the mirror around his reflection.

"Uh yeah... you are Chat Noir after all. Duh." Plagg agreed with an exasperated tone.

"But Plagg, I look like CHAT NOIR!" Adrien reiterated as he pointed to his own reflection accusingly.

Plagg was flabbergasted by his sudden state of duress. "Well yeah, what's your point? Chat Noir's appearance hasn't really change over the year he's been around. I don't get why you're freaking out now?"

Adrien groaned, mortified by Plagg's statement and his own obliviousness. "But I look like him Plagg! Just look! I'm amazed no one's noticed yet."

Plagg rolled his eyes. "Well then if they haven't noticed yet, they probably won't. Nothing to freak out about at this point kid."

Adrien had his head down on the counter as his fingers further messed up his hair in frustration. "But Plagg, it's only a matter of time."

Plagg chuckled at his whine. "Look kid, Ladybug doesn't even know who you are, so if she hasn't figured it out yet, no one else will. I mean who would know you better than her?" The black kwami reasoned without really thinking into it. Adrien made no comment to his response, however, and after waiting a minute he just shrugged. "Just relax kid." He then flew off looking for some cheese to get his mind of the panicking teen. Adrien, on the other hand, had simply switched targets. Instead of thinking about how much he looked like Chat Noir, he thought about Ladybug. More specifically, on whether she looked like her alter ego as much as he did.

The next day at school had the boy on edge. He'd shown up at his usual time, but he suddenly felt hyper aware of everyone around him. 'Ladybug could be someone he knows' He couldn't help thinking before shaking it from his mind. No, he couldn't go trying to figure out who she was. She trusted him after all. She wanted their identities to remain a secret. If he was going to find out who she was, it would be because she told him. "Dude? You okay?"

Adrien jumped from his thoughts at his friend's voice. "Oh uh... yeah, just thinking." Adrien played off as he turned to him.

"Pretty hard if your face is any indication dude. Relax, we've got this assignment in the bag." Nino consoled as he pat his friend on the back. It felt weird to Adrien that Nino thought it was about the paper. "I know you were kind worried yesterday. You seemed kinda tense near the end, but seriously dude, relax." Oh, that makes sense. He probably was acting weird considering how panicked he was yesterday.

Adrien let out a sigh of relief as he gave his friend a smile. "Yeah, you're right. We practically finished it yesterday didn't we?"

Nino waved his hand. "Practically. We should probably come up with another day so we can actually type it up though. I doubt Ms. Bustier will take our notes." He joked with a jab to the blonde's side.

"But our notes were so good." Adrien teased back.

"Good notes huh? Well hopefully I can be just as confident." Alya cut in as she approached them at the lockers.

"Morning Alya." Nino hugged her while Adrien waved. "So what did you and Marinette pick anyway?"

Alya gave him a grin. "Well, after watching Marinette stare at the paper for a few minutes, I picked out 'Hollywood Costuming' since it would center around clothes." She explained as she crossed her arms.

"Good call." Nino praised as he thought about it. "With Marinette on your team, you'll be up to your ears in details."

Alya nodded. "Exactly. We met at her place to do some online research, before picking a few films. She was still writing when I left yesterday." All three of them shared a laugh knowing how much Marinette loved fashion. Seeing bad details in costumes would be child's play for her.

"Well I picked the trope of a lifetime for us right Adrien?"

The blond nodded in response. "The Paper-Thin Disguise." He revealed dramatically.

"AKA, bad super hero disguises that somehow work." Nino added in with a laugh.

Adrien practically forced himself to join him hoping neither would notice how anxious the topic made him. He silently went over what Plagg had told him last night. No one had notice for over a year. Ladybug obviously didn't either since they'd run by his billboards dozens of times. He was fine. She was fi- "Oh Marinette? Made it to school on time did we?" Alya joked, interrupting Adrien's thoughts.

They all turned to the young aspiring designer who was trying to catch her breath. "Barely... I slept through my alarm." She admitted as she stood up straight.

"Well you still have fifteen minutes girl, catch your breath." Alya pointed out in amusement. "You only live five minutes away."

Marinette's embarrassment was obvious especially when she took note of who else was there. She hadn't noticed him right away since Nino and Alya were in the way, but she tensed upon seeing her crush. He was staring right at her, and had yet to say anything. "Uh.. hi...?" She meeked out about as confidently as usual.

Alya rolled her eyes at the display before moving to her side. "Yes, good morning. Now why don't we get up to the class room? At least then we can make sure you don't end up late." She teased as she pulled her friend along with her.

Nino saw the freeze up and felt it was pretty funny as well. From the moment he learned of her crush on his friend, he wondered why it never occurred to him before. He rolled his eyes at his own obliviousness before turning back to Adrien. "Well dude, ready for class? ... Dude?" He waved his hand in the young model's face when he didn't say anything.

"Huh? Oh, yeah I am." He closed his locker and went along. Nino didn't seem to think too much into his behavior especially when they joined the girls in the classroom. Adrien didn't make much of a point to join in anymore conversation before class started. He was too busy trying as hard as he could not to turn around. If he gave into the temptation his over active thoughts were giving him, he knew he'd regret it.

And so ends the first part. I only intend for 2 chapters. Also, I know I'm not the only one yelling at the screen when its so obvious and everyone should notice especially Adrien and Marinette since they know each other in both forms! Marinette your stalker skills missed something really big!=^-^=