*** PLEASE READ : ***

I thought about delaying the release of this chapter because I didn't want people to draw comparisons between it and the new ML episode ("Ephemeral") but I decided to just go ahead and post it anyway. Any similarities to canon events are not intentional, as this chapter was fully written before its release. So , don't be like "YoU CoPiEd ThE sHoW".

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Music glossary:

Crescendo- a gradual increase in the volume and intensity of music; derived from the Italian word crescere, which means "to grow".

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(Mood Music: "The Gravel Road" - James Newton Howard)

Chat Noir landed on Marinette's balcony as light on his feet as ever, despite his body feeling like it was made of lead. He set her down gingerly, ever so delicately, as if she were a porcelain statue. If he could, he would've held onto her forever just to guarantee that she'd never be put in such danger again.

He noticed she was still frowning. She had every right to be angry, he recognized that much. Not only had she been rudely stolen away mid-conversation with the legendary fashion icon she'd admired since childhood, but the beautiful cake they'd lovingly crafted together was ruined. If only he hadn't lost track of today's date, he would've known that it had been meant for him.

She searched his face despite him pointedly avoiding her gaze, his brain desperately trying to make up some explanation. There was really nothing he could say that wouldn't make him sound like he'd completely lost his sanity. In Marinette's mind, what outcome could she have possibly encountered in the home of her idol, other than being invited to stay for dinner with the family, or maybe even offered an internship?

He suppressed a sigh. What lie could he possibly construct that would be convincing enough? If he had more time to think about it, maybe he could come up with something. But time was not on his side; at this moment, she was standing right in front of him awaiting an explanation.

A few droplets of rain landed on his head, prompting him to look up. He finally met Marinette's eyes, but shockingly, she didn't look angry. He knew she wasn't the type to kick him out when he had no place to go; but still, he was relieved that she wasn't reacting with rage, like many people might.

"So... are we gonna talk about what just happened?" she finally spoke.

Chat swallowed hard. Where to even begin?

"Mari... I know it seems crazy. All I can tell you is that I know Gabriel Agreste personally and that you need to stay away from him. There's more to him than you know. Please, believe me." He groaned hopelessly, running a hand through his hair as he paced. "I know that's not much to go on, but after all we've been through together, I hope that's enough of a reason."

She crossed her arms in puzzlement and frustration at his reply, clearly unsatisfied, but respecting the boundary that had been set forth.

Chat looked at her helplessly, wishing more than anything for there to be no more secrets between them. But he couldn't tell her.

...Or could he?

Fu had said that Chat Noir and Ladybug couldn't know each other's identities because of potential negative consequences. But what about Chat Noir and Marinette?

He'd yearned to be able to confide in someone for so long, and next to Ladybug, there was no one else he trusted more. So why not?

On the other hand, would it be fair to burden her with this knowledge? Would it put her in even more danger if she were to know? The last thing he wanted to do was to paint an even bigger target on her back, especially with what had just happened at the mansion. And yet, this secret knowledge could also help her to stay safe. She'd be able to actively avoid Gabriel, and any danger revolving around his family. There were so many unknown factors to account for.

What should he do?

Chat raised his gaze to meet hers, the answer at the tip of his tongue. Instead, he asked, his tone deep and serious, "Do you really want to know?" He hadn't voiced it, but she understood what he meant: Do you want to know the truth?

She held her breath. "About...?"

"Everything."

This reply seemed to stun her, and she practically tripped backwards in shock. He'd just offered himself on a silver platter; the next move was hers.

Marinette didn't seem to know what to do with the ball on her court. She stammered, her hands didn't seem to know where to go, and her eyes darted around as if the right answer would be scurrying around on the floor.

"What?? Y-you mean 'everything' everything?? Who you are, your real name, that sort of 'everything'? Do you really mean it??" she sputtered.

Chat nodded meekly, looking rather small and vulnerable.

"I-I-I don't know– I mean, w-what about Ladybug? Shouldn't she know firs– uhh I mean, does she already know?"

He shook his head. "We're not allowed to know each others' identities. I haven't told anyone. But I trust you."

Marinette put both hands on her cheeks, as if holding her head would keep her brain from exploding. "Chat, I– Gosh... I-I don't know, it's so sudden... This is a lot."

"Do you... not want me to?" Chat uttered, not able to hide the dejected tone to his voice.

"It's not that I don't want you to, I just don't know if you should. Uh... can I get a rain check?"

Chat blinked at her, incredulous and somewhat hurt at the flippant reply.

Marinette realized what she'd said, then facepalmed. "Oh, jeez. Sorry, I didn't mean to make a joke about the weather. What I mean is, I need to think about it. Is that alright?"

"O-okay, that's fair," he replied, trying his hardest to hide how rejected he felt. He knew Marinette had every right to say no– and this wasn't even an outright "no"– but it still stung somehow. He swallowed hard, his eyes beginning to feel misty.

Space. He needed space. He just needed to be away from people right now.

He took a step back. "Um, anyway, I'm just gonna go... take a walk."

"A walk? But it's gonna start raining any minute now."

"It's okay. This cat's not afraid of water," he replied, looking away sharply to avoid her face, not trusting himself to remain composed for much longer. He turned on his heel and leaped to the next roof, careful not to slip on the slick surface.

This wasn't how he'd hoped today would go.

-----

Marinette watched Chat Noir bound away from roof to roof, too shaken and tongue-tied to try to call him back. She inwardly chastised herself, squeezing her fists tight, cursing her own awkwardness, and ashamed at how she'd handled that conversation.

She had to go after him.

"Spots on," she muttered once he was too far away to hear. A few seconds passed and nothing happened. "Tikki?" she called a little louder. "Tikki, spots on."

After nothing happened yet again, she looked into her purse and gasped when she found it empty. She retraced her steps from earlier that day and realized that she'd left Tikki behind when she left the house. She rushed through the balcony door into her bedroom to look for her.

The bedroom was empty at first, but then from the corner of her eye, she saw Tikki come out of hiding.

"Marinette!! How could you forget me?!" Tikki zoomed to her, hugging Marinette as wide as her tiny arms allowed her to.

Surprised at how distressed Tikki sounded, Marinette replied, "I'm so sorry I left without you, Tikki! I guess I just wasn't paying attention!"

"It was very dangerous, Marinette, something bad could've happened!" Tikki reprimanded. "Uh... L-Like an akuma attack!" she added hastily.

Marinette cringed, hands sliding down her face in embarrassment. "I know, I know. I won't forget ever again."

Tikki sighed. "Sorry to be so hard on you; you just had me so worried!"

"But why? You knew my friend had a birthday today and that I was gonna deliver a cake; I'd only be gone a few minutes, tops!"

"Yeah, but why didn't you tell me your friend was Adrien Agreste??"

Marinette paused, giving her a pointed look. "Why does that even matter?"

"Because–" Tikki began, but stopped herself. After all, what could she possibly say? Marinette baked treats for all her friends during special occasions. There was no way to explain the danger she'd been in, while omitting literally everything.

Tikki inwardly chided herself. How could she have forgotten Adrien's birthday after her young charge had obsessed about it every year since they were fourteen?? Yes, many stressful things had happened lately, but even still! There was no excuse.

She recalled the terrifying conversation that she'd overheard Adrien and Plagg have in the bedroom earlier, when they came in looking for Marinette. The horrifying realization that her charge was walking straight into the lion's den, and had left behind her only manner of defense.

Marinette put her hands on her hips, frowning. "Tikki, how did Chat know where to find me?"

Tikki remained silent, unable to come up with a suitable answer that wasn't the truth. Not that the magic of the miraculous would've allowed her to tell the truth anyway.

"I'm going to go look for him."

"Marinette..." Tikki uttered helplessly.

"I need answers, Tikki. I don't have to know his identity. But I'm going to make sure that Chat Noir isn't Adrien Agreste. They can't be the same person. It's impossible. There's similarities, sure, but there's also too many contradictions. Not to mention, it would—" her voice cracked, and she looked away.

"What is it?" the kwami asked softly.

Marinette took a deep breath and looked back at her kwami, eyes full of pain and sorrow. "It's too horrible to even think about. It would be too sad. It just can't be true. And I'm gonna prove it."

She stood up. "Spots on."

(Continued in part 2)