Hello all! Welcome to my first Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir fanfic. I have been recently introduced to the show and I absolutely love it. After binging seasons 1-3 on Netflix, I figured I would pass the time waiting for season 4 here. :D This is my take on a coming of age novel for the series. The rating will be ranging between T-M content. Pay VERY close attention to the author's notes and don't read if you can't handle. Story will be taking place immediately after the show left off. Story loosely based on comic: Who Are You by Kylukia on DeviantArt.

Overall Rating: M

Chapter Rating: M(Explicit sexual material and themes)

Summary: Growing up isn't easy. Sometimes life doesn't always go according to plan. The only thing we really know for sure is that everything changes, whether big or small. Only by being who we really are can we hope to make it through the crazy adventure called life.

Who You Are

Chapter 1: Ready or Not

"M-Minou," the teen hero whispered in a shuddering breath, the warm breath against her ear threatening to overwhelm her senses. Her heart fluttered at the deep purr she felt reverberate through the masculine chest tightly pressed against her own. The teen bit her lip to stifle the sudden groan that bubbled up in her throat as a leather-clad knee slowly nudged her legs apart.

The teen trembled, feeling her legs fail her. If it wasn't for her amorous partner supporting her, she was certain she would have fallen to her rear on the hard cement of the alley in which he was currently attempting to romance her. "B-bu-but-" a soft, leather-gloved finger to her lips silenced her and she felt herself shudder again. Okay, so he was succeeding.

"P-please, Milady," he warmly whispered against her ear, lightly tracing the tip of his tongue against it.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe as she felt the knee between her thighs press against her groin. Her heart hammered in her ribcage, and she was positive the flirtatious cat would hear it with his acute senses. "W-we can't! I-I told you that I-" the rest of her words died in her throat as she received another prod from his knee. A sharp whimper leaked from her pale lips, much to her mortification. Her red suit did little to dull her would-be lover's touches. Raising her hands to his shoulders, she intended to shove him away when he suddenly leaned forward, timidly bringing their lips together. In that moment, all coherent thought seemed to grind to a halt. Time seemed to stand still. Her heart skipped a beat, her stomach flipping as a pleasant chill slithered its way down the teen's spine at the ghost of a moan that reached her ears.

His lips were so much warmer and softer than she'd imagined they'd be. Her breath hitched as he gave a low purr, the light vibration against her lips almost ticklish. She felt her toes curl as he suddenly lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist as he held her against the wall of the alley. Tearing her mouth away, she gasped as he then lightly began kissing her jaw. "C-Cat, w-wa-wait! A-a-ah." Her bright blue eyes widened, a strangled whimper being torn from her lips as he suddenly pressed his hips into hers. Her light suit merely seemed to amplify the friction as he began repeatedly pressing their lower bodies together, allowing her to feel the length of him against her. Shuddering as the endorphins quickly began flooding her system, she offered no resistance as he sealed their lips once more…

Marinette's eyes snapped open, the gasp still fresh on her lips as she bolted upright. The teen groaned as her head began to spin. Still shivering as the adrenaline surged through her body, the teen bit her lip against the steady, throbbing ache between her thighs. Drawing her knees to her chest, she silently willed her heart to resume its usual rhythm. This was the third time this week! She honestly felt like crying. What was happening to her? And of all people to star in those types of dreams she had; Cat Noir? Lately, the teen idly wondered if she wasn't simply losing her mind.

The dark-haired teen frowned, waiting for her eyesight to adjust to the lack of light. Marinette was at a complete loss. Her and Luka had been dating for nearly a month now, and he had yet to come close to entering her dreams the way Cat Noir did…or Adrien. The thought caused fresh tears to burn her, already blurry, eyes.

"M-Marinette?" a hesitant voice startled her, causing her to jump as she whirled around to see a familiar, red face.

"I-it's *sniff* okay Tikki. Go back to sleep," she assured the worried kwami, gently stroking her head with a finger.

"Another nightmare?" the kwami questioned, gently pulling the finger down from her head to hug tightly to it as she pinned her handler with a sympathetic glance.

Marinette looked away. She'd never felt so terrible, but she couldn't even explain her feelings to herself, let alone Tikki. Would the kwami even be capable of understanding such a thing? Using her free hand, she quickly wiped her eyes before forcing a smile. "Y-yeah. It's nothing. Just silly dreams. Let's get some rest, okay?"

Her kwami gave a suspicious look, but nodded nonetheless. Marinette would tell her when she was ready…she hoped. The spotted, fairly-like creature flew up to the girl's cheek, giving it a light kiss before floating back toward her usual resting place on her pillow. "Goodnight, Marinette. Please, sleep well."

The teen bit her lip. She HATED keeping things from Tikki. However, she had felt nothing but dirty for nearly three weeks now. She had resolved to give Luka a real chance, so why could she not seem to be able to? Sure, they went on dates. He took her places and was always there to listen to her, when she decided to talk, that is. Though, despite her denials, she was distracted. She supposed that her alter ego's partnership with Cat Noir, and their extended time spent together saving Paris, was the cause of him appearing so frequently in her dreams. After all, it was no secret the cat was crazy about his Ladybug.

She frowned. It still made no sense. Cat Noir had been acting somewhat reserved as of late around her. Was it simply her subconscious attempting to shift him back to the behavior she had become accustomed to? Stifling a giggle, the teen shook her head. There was no way she actually LIKED him hitting on her, right? Right?

Giving a yawn, Marinette slowly moved to lay down once more. Taking a spare pillow, she hugged it tightly to her chest. She and Adrien were doing somewhat better now at least. When she had first found out that he was formally dating Kagami, she had thought she would never get over it. At least she could somewhat get a sentence out around him now. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. Why was it that everything in her life was supposed to be going right, but it was going so wrong? Rolling over, she attempted to get more comfortable. Smiling, she watched over her slumbering kwami for a while longer. Things would surely get better, right? Right?

The teen grimaced, shifting her legs uncomfortably. Another late-night shower it is…

Adrien groaned as he slowly sat up, running a hand through his disheveled, blond hair. Why did his dreams lately seem set on torturing him? A part of him had hoped that dating Kagami would allow him to move on from his infatuation. Oh, how he had been sorely mistaken. In fact, it seemed his dreams were even more insistent. The blond sighed. His emerald eyes rolled in exasperation as he noticed the slumbering creature near the foot of his bed. Plagg had chosen to say little on the matter over the past several weeks, and it honestly didn't surprise him that he hadn't awoken. The cat could sleep through a hurricane.

Stretching, the teen grimaced as he slowly crawled out of bed and trudged his way to the bathroom. Late-night showers had become the norm for him lately. Making his way over to the shower, he turned on the water and yawned. He bit his lip as he began to undress. He had to know Ladybug's identity. The teen was positive that, if he finally knew who was beneath the mask, he would be able to put his feelings to rest…for better or worse. Stepping into the shower, he allowed the warm water to run over him with a sigh. I-It may be hopeless, but…I-I just gotta keep trying.

The teen winced. He knew it wasn't fair to Kagami. On the other hand, it wasn't like he could just tell her either. It would crush her.

Adrien bit his lip. He knew he was being selfish, but he just couldn't help it. He had to stop doing things only to please others. Surely Kagami would understand, right? After all, she had lived a sheltered life not so different from his own. Unfortunately, he wasn't as happy as he originally thought he would be. Then again, it wasn't like he was expecting Kagami to be anything like Ladybug.

The boy groaned as flashes from his dream slowly drifted back to him. Her soft skin…and her voice. God, he could still hear it! That breathless, yet confident voice still sounding in his ears, causing color to fill his cheeks. If he wasn't so embarrassed by the content of his dreams as of late, he might have smiled. He could almost hear her still whispering to him what a good kitty he was.

Shuddering, the blond quickly reached up to lower the water's temperature. He was supposed to be banishing these thoughts not fueling them! Quickly shaking his head, the blond attempted to will his thoughts in a different direction, preferably one in which he wasn't tempted by a red skin-tight suit and alluring azure eyes. The teen felt heat immediately rush to his face. Those eyes…you'd think he would never be able to forget them. After all, he had them permanently burned into his memory. Reaching up, he slowly rubbed his temples to ease the headache he could feel beginning to set in. Part of him wished he at least had someone he could really talk to. While he could freely talk to Plagg, there were certain things the cat simply refused to talk about.

Adrien wasn't stupid. He knew that the kwami knew Ladybug's true identity, and he was extremely careful when she was the topic of conversation. It only served to drive the boy mad! He was positive now that Ladybug was one of his schoolmates. The blond sighed, turning the water off and stepping out of the shower. Admittedly, he was quickly growing tired of all the rules. His entire life seemed to be made up of rules! If it wasn't for her request, he mostly likely would've revealed himself to her long ago.

I…I need her to know. Even if she still wants to keep her true identity a secret, it's ok. But I just can't stand hiding from her anymore.

He should feel so guilty. He knew he should, but he was beyond help. It wasn't that Kagami was necessarily a bad girlfriend. However, he would be lying if he were to say that he didn't feel the least bit pressured by her. She was doting enough…almost to the point of suffocation at times. The teen sucked in his bottom lip, chewing on it relentlessly. He should be happy, he knew he should, but…

Shaking his head, the blond banished the thoughts for another time. Slowly redressing himself, the teen glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He grimaced at the dark circles under his eyes. His father wouldn't be too pleased. Heaving a sigh, he made his way back to his bed. He could only hope that he would be able to at least get a few hours of sleep. Flopping down onto his back, he gave another sigh as he pulled his comforter over his head and lamented the long night ahead of him.

A long yawn escaped the girl's lips as she rested her chin in her hand, desperately trying to stay awake through the class period. A muffled groan escaped her at the light jab she felt to her ribs. Sitting up, she gave her best friend a sheepish smile.

Alya quirked a brow, but said nothing. Honestly! If the girl spaced out one more time, she would surely become an astronaut. She smiled warmly, though she hardly felt the part. She was honestly beginning to worry about her.

Marinette just hadn't been the same since Adrien had started seeing Kagami. Alya bit her lip as she turned her attention to the blond head in front of her. She knew it wasn't his fault…necessarily. However, it was obvious that Marinette was NOT okay. The teen blew out a sigh. Then again, it's not like Marinette had announced she was struggling in any way. In fact, the junior blogger was positive that she would assure anyone who asked that she was fine.

Alya pinched the bridge of her nose. She just didn't get it. She had thought for sure that her friend was happy. After all, she was dating Luka now. The thought caused the wavy-haired teen to sneak a glance at her friend. She frowned. The girl's head was down again. Her pale, pink lips were pulled into a thin line. Alya sighed. She knew that look all too well. If Marinette needed cheering up, she knew just the thing. "Hey, Marinette," she whispered, quirking a brow when the teen failed to respond. "Marinette? Earth to space girl."

Marinette jumped as she felt another jab to her ribs. Turning to her friend, she shot her a mildly annoyed, questioning look.

"So Nino and I are hunting down Andre's cart after school. You wanna come along?" when it looked as though she would decline, Alya raised a finger to her chin in contemplation. "Oh! I know! Why don't you text Luka and see if he wants to come too! It can be a double date."

Marinette frowned. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the gesture, really. However, it was safe to say that ice cream was the last thing on her mind. Though, perhaps taking her mind off things wouldn't be so bad. Just when she was about to voice her decision, she snapped her mouth closed as she detected the conversation going on in front of her.

"So, dude, why don't you and Kagami come along too? It would be awesome."

Adrien forced a smile. Even if he had the free time, he wasn't all that in the mood to go on a date right now. In fact, he was beginning to wonder if he should perhaps ask Kagami for a little time apart to clear his jumbled mind. "N-nah, I don't think so, Nino. Besides, I kinda got a photoshoot anyway. Maybe a rain check?"

The teen folded his arms with a huff. "Dude," he muttered, shaking his head.

The blond offered a sympathetic, sheepish grin. "Sorry."

"Geez! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you and Marinette both are avoiding us," Nino snorted.

Adrien nearly failed to restrain the gasp that suddenly bubbled up in his throat at the mere mention of the girl's name. Right. That was another thing weighing on his mind. The teen spared a glance behind him out of the corner of his eye. Would they ever be the same? Ever since he'd started dating Kagami, Marinette had become somewhat distant. Perhaps she really didn't like him as much as he'd hoped. The teen blew out a sigh, sitting up straight. Great! All this worry was sure to give him gray hairs. The thought almost made him laugh…almost. Boy, would his father ever be furious! "You know what my schedule is like. I promise next time I will for sure make it," the blond finally assured, flashing one of his trademark smiles.

Marinette watched the scene with a somber expression. Suddenly it wasn't such a difficult decision. She wouldn't soon forget what happened the last time she'd gone to Andre's upset. "Sorry, Alya. I, uh, can't today. I promised my parents that I would help out today after school," she muttered, quickly turning her attention to the tablet sitting on her desk.

Alya adjusted her glasses, but let the obvious falsity slide for the time being. It really wasn't like Marinette to lie, so she could only assume it was for good reason. "Oh…well, maybe another time?"

Marinette nodded, trying her best not to look as miserable as she felt. "Sure. Another time." Sighing for what had to have been the hundredth time, the teen brushed a hand through her midnight hair. She felt the subtle movement of Tikki shifting in her purse at her hip and spared a quick glance at the accessory. Poor Tikki! She had to be so worried. The teen chewed her bottom lip lightly. She really needed to get ahold of herself! Too many negative emotions would surely attract…

"An akuma!"

The sudden, shrill cry from outside sent the classroom into momentary pandemonium as students rushed to the windows to peer outside.

Not taking the time to fight through the crowd to see the chaos that had everyone so entranced, Marinette quickly rose from her seat. "I, uh, have to use the bathroom!" she called as she rushed for the door, vaguely hearing Adrien excuse himself as well.

Azure eyes remained focused as the teen quickly sped down the hall. She was mildly surprised that she'd managed to not trip or fall as she narrowly dodged the various frightened students and faculty roaming about the halls in the calamity. Ducking into the girls' bathroom, she quickly glanced around to ensure she was alone. Moving to one of the unoccupied stalls, she breathed a sigh of relief for the small good fortune. "Okay, Tikki, let's go. Spots on!"

The kwami gave a smile and a wink before immediately springing into action.

Marinette sighed as she instantly felt the transformation take hold, feeling her physical strength increase dramatically. Reaching for the yoyo now at her hip, she quickly exited the stall, climbed out the window, and swung onto the school rooftop to survey her surroundings.

Following the sound of the screams, the teen narrowed her eyes as she glanced into the school courtyard. A tall, slender woman with her back to her immediately drew her attention. The bright orange and silver suit she wore instantly gave her away.

She almost rolled her eyes. Honestly, Hawk Moth's victims were relatively easy to find. The glaring, gaudy costumes were a dead giveaway. She heard a soft 'thump'. Cracking a small smile, she didn't need to look beside her to know that her partner had arrived on the scene. "You got here pretty fast this time, Kitty. In the neighborhood?"

A brief look of surprise flashed over the cat's face. "You, uh, you could say that."

Ladybug quirked a brow. "What? No puns today, kitty cat?"

Cat Noir pursed his lips. How? How was she able to do that? Then again, he supposed he couldn't really blame her for being oblivious to his inner turmoil as of late. Somehow, the thought only served to further sadden him, and he frowned. Sighing, he quickly shook his head. Hopefully she would be receptive to talking with him afterward. Shifting his attention to where she had been watching, he offered a small smile. "Shall we?"

The girl in question frowned, but nodded nonetheless. He still hadn't returned to using the usual pet names he'd previously reserved for her. Though she was loathed to admit it, a part of her definitely missed hearing him call her 'bugaboo'. Quickly shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the heroine turned her attention back to their newest adversary.

People continued to scream and run as the woman cackled. "I am Firestar!" she proudly proclaimed, "They thought they could just use me, then throw me away. Now you will all taste my fiery fury!"

The teen duo failed to suppress the collective gasp that they uttered as the young brunette then raised her arm. A blinding, yellow hue engulfed her arm as she casually pointed to a nearby car. The ground shook, causing the heroes to struggle to maintain their footing.

Ladybug's eyes widened as the car burst into flame. Quickly grabbing her partner's hand, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her to the corner of the roof, Cat Noir stumbling after her. The teen reached for her yo-yo and bit her lip. She swung the tool out then, feeling it catch and wrap around a flagpole sticking out of the side of an adjacent building. Drawing in a deep breath, she pulled her partner flush to her side and jumped. She couldn't help the sigh of relief that rushed past her lips as the booming explosion sounded behind her. Clinging to the side of the building, the pair glanced back to where they had just been…where their school had once stood.

"Holy…"

Ladybug said nothing at her partner's whispered reaction in his state of shock. If she had been only a moment later… Quickly shaking her head, the teen willed her thoughts to focus on the task at hand. She could panic over narrowly losing him later. "Let's go."

Cat Noir could only nod as the female hero carefully maneuvered them down the side of the building to make it safely to the ground. He had to admit; it was times like these when he just couldn't help but admire her. She was always so collected and sure of herself. It was definitely a talent of hers that he envied. If only he could be himself in real life… without the mask…

Upon reaching the ground, the pair peered around the corner, gasping at the sheer amount of carnage. Amongst the screaming crowds of people running and damaged vehicles lining the streets, there were...bodies? Real bodies?

Ladybug swallowed hard. In all honesty, even with as long as she had been a hero, she had yet to fully see a deceased human being. Save for her time traveling to right the past with Bunnix, she had never laid eyes upon a human body. Would her miraculous even fix that? The teen had little time to ponder the matter as she winced from the growing heat from the nearby ashes of the exploded vehicle that began to burn and sting her eyes. Sparing a quick glance at her partner, she managed a weak smile. "You doing okay, Cat?"

The cat returned the gesture. "Just peachy."

"Do you think you can get to those fire hydrants over there?" the red-clad beauty questioned, her eyes scanning her surroundings for their adversary. She frowned. Where did she go? Smoke was beginning to obscure her vision. She coughed, feeling her lungs begin to burn.

"You got it."

Ladybug watched as her partner cautiously made his way over to the hydrants on the other side of the street from her. They had to get the fire out quickly and get rid of the smoke that was now making it nearly impossible to see. She felt her heart sink to her stomach as another cackle reached her ears. Squinting against the fog, she was finally able to make out the silhouette making its way toward her unsuspecting partner. "Cat Noir! Behind you!" the shout burned her throat as the smoke inhalation began its devastating effects.

The cat's emerald eyes widened as he narrowly dodged the fireball sent in his direction. Extending his metal staff, the teen hero ground his teeth as he began to spin the rod in a rapid circle. The teen hero bit his lip as he spared a glance to his partner. Even from the distance he was, he could tell she was coughing profusely, nearly doubled over as she slowly struggled to get to higher ground and above the smoky inferno. The cat hero cursed under his breath as he deflected another fiery attack. If he didn't get the hydrants going soon, they would be done for! The blond grit his teeth as his foe suddenly noticed the movement behind her and turned her attention to a new target. NO! "LADYBUG!" The teen felt his heart sink as the shout came too late, and the heroine was sent flying backward several feet.

Ladybug groaned as she drug herself to her feet. She had apparently hit her head against a streetlight when she'd fallen. She sucked in a breath, her head beginning to swim. Between the heavy smoke and her pounding head, the teen barely registered the calls of her partner until he suddenly landed in front of her, shielding her from taking another blow with a swing of his staff.

"L-Ladybug?" the cat questioned, glancing at her from over his shoulder. His eyes widened as he watched her raise a hand to rub the back of her head, only for it to return smeared with blood. The cat cursed under his breath once again.

The sight of the blood seemed to shock the injured hero back to reality as she quickly grabbed her yo-yo, throwing it into the air as high as she could manage in her current state. "Lucky charm!" She squeaked in alarm as a bag of cement mixture suddenly came tumbling from the sky, its added weight nearly throwing her off balance. Quickly scanning their surroundings, she smiled. "Alright, Cat, get ready. We only have one shot."

Cat Noir gave an inward sigh of relief and nodded. "You got it, Milady."

Ladybug couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. Finally! After nearly a month… "Go!" she shouted, tossing the bag as far as her strength would allow.

Cat Noir sprang after it. "Cataclysm!" with a cry, he slashed the bag open, its contents emptying over Firestar's unsuspecting head.

"What the?!" She glowered as she spun around to find the cat now behind her next to an unguarded fire hydrant.

"I think it's high time you cooled down, Firestar! Cat Noir, would you do the honors?"

"You bet."

Firestar gave a shriek as the Cat hero then hit cap on the hydrant with his staff, water gushing out in a massive wave. The akumatized young woman squirmed as the, now wet, cement began to harden around her body, freezing her in place.

"I'll take that," Ladybug spoke as she reached for the star pendent around the villain's neck and tossed it onto the ground before stepping on it, causing a small purple butterfly to emerge. Swinging her yo-yo out, she quickly captured the creature. "No more evildoing for you, little akuma." She smiled as she opened her yo-yo to then allow the captured creature to escape, its color now white as the purest snow. "Bye, bye, little butterfly."

"Nice work, as always," Cat Noir smiled, his breath hitching in his throat as she turned to face him then. Now that the danger had passed, he was finally able to fully admire the dark-haired beauty in front of him. Her hair had come loose when she'd hit her head and was now framing her delicate face in positively the most alluring way he'd ever seen. It was only now that he realized he'd never seen the heroine with her hair out of the usual pigtails and ribbons. Oh, what he'd give to glide his fingers lovingly through the midnight tresses.

Ladybug gave a small smile, gingerly rubbing the back of her head again. The teen ground her teeth against the sudden surge of pain. She grimaced as she noticed the fresh blood staining her palm. Collecting a piece of the bag that had contained the cement mixture from the ground, she tossed it into the air. The sooner she got this part over with, the better. "Miraculous ladybug!"

A warm light bathed the surrounding area, the school returning to its former state. The car that had exploded only moments before, was now parked where it had been, once again in perfect condition.

The red-clad hero frowned as she heard the sound of sirens drawing near. She supposed it made sense, judging by her, still throbbing, head. Inanimate objects were repaired easily enough. Matters of flesh and blood, however… Offering her partner a smile more confident than she felt at the moment, she offered him her fist in the usual fashion. This was good. She had to act casual… normal. She shuddered to think what the cat would say if he knew of the dreams she was having. At least he was using her nickname again. "Uh, pound it?"

Cat Noir bit his lip, desperately fighting the heat he could feel creeping up his neck. What the hell was the matter with him?! Returning the usual friendly gesture, he gently brushed his fist against hers with a smile. He watched in fascination as she quickly turned away from him afterward. Opening his mouth to speak, he was cut off by the warning beeps. Whether from his own miraculous or hers, he couldn't tell, but he knew it only meant one thing: he was out of time.

"Sorry, Kitty," she murmured, not daring to face him, "Well, catch up later."

Cat sighed as he watched her go, feeling somewhat humiliated. Growling under his breath, the blond took off down the street to search for a secluded place to detransform.

A/N: There ya have chapter 1, folks. I do hope you enjoyed it. I would like to try to get a chapter out every 2 weeks or so. Keep in mind that I am also working on another fanfic novel for Rosario+Vampire, so I will attempt to update whenever I can. Stay tuned for much more fluff, drama, and heated romance! :D