. . . . . . . .

"This is so dumb."

Cat Noir stood up stiffly, hands clenched at his sides as he stared distantly and angrily across his water-covered city. He knew Ladybug couldn't tell or show him her true identity, at least, but now he'd found out she also knew their friend Rena Rouge's real self, and she kept saying something about a "him". On top of it all, she'd said he wasn't allowed to know what on Earth she was talking about.

"Claws in," he growled.

With the familiar power-down noise, his black suit vanished in a golden light, starting at his feet and ending at his head. After his mask disappeared and Plagg reformed, he didn't shift his stare.

His kwami yawned and stretched, tired from the transformation. "What's taking her so long?" he started complaining, but then froze and gasped when he saw Adrien begin sliding the silver ring off his finger.

"Whoa—easy! What are you doing?!" he cried out, shocked.

Adrien narrowed his eyes, frustrated, but kept the miraculous halfway down his finger. "If you don't tell me what Ladybug's hiding from me," he snapped, "I'm done."

"You can't do that!" Plagg protested desperately, his eyes wider than ever.

"Why not?" Adrien's voice cracked a little as he spoke his next words. "No one'll know if I quit. No one will care."

"I will!" the cat kwami pointed out in response. His tone had gone high-pitched with panic.

"Why? 'Cause you'll have no one to bring you camembert?" The smallest smile crossed the troubled boy's face as he finished.

Plagg turned around and crossed his tiny arms. "I'm sure there'll be another Cat Noir to bring me cheese," he shot back. Then he looked meaningfully back at his friend and added, "But he won't be you."

Adrien smiled softly. Those words were quite possibly the kindest he'd ever heard his lazy kwami speak. It felt good to hear them, but he hadn't been joking earlier. "I'm sorry, Plagg," he sighed, and Plagg's green eyes grew round with shock. He started yelping, "Adri—" but was cut off as the now former Cat Noir took his ring completely off, which sucked its kwami inside and turned it black with the glowing green pawprint on the round face.

Looking at it, and his bare finger, hurt a lot. He'd always loved being Cat Noir; having the freedom to say whatever he wanted, act however he wanted, and be himself without anyone knowing who was really the one always making puns and flirting openly with Ladybug.

Ladybug.

Technically, no matter how much he hated it, this was her doing.

Well, maybe she'll be cool with this. I mean, she's never really liked me. Ever. Seems she's always annoyed because of me.

He knew he'd have to find another guy to be the new holder. Ladybug was strong, incredibly strong, but they were a team.

'Another guy. . .' The thought of her getting a new partner was even more painful.

It's for her. If she's not gonna tell me anything, I need to find someone she will. Not that she'll miss me or anything. She'll probably be relieved, even.

His own thoughts were becoming an extremely heavy weight on his heart, and he shook himself. Stay focused. No more self pity. She wants to be like that, fine. Now let's go find a new guy to work with her. Someone who she'll trust. Maybe it'll be that guy she likes.