It was so clear; he wonders how he had not seen it before.

After a week of mulling it over every night in his dreams, and through any spare moment he had, he decides it's time. He has to know.

He has to know if she's really Ladybug.

He wasn't sure how she managed to do it. She always seems so busy, where does she even find time to have a double life? But, he figures, the same could be said about him. Maybe that's what helped keep both their identities hard to pin down.

What was most unbelievable is that she has been right under his nose this entire time. He always had a hunch that she attended his school, but on some days, it felt like Ladybug wasn't real at all, just a vision of perfection.

But she is very much real, and within his sights. It felt unfair to know her identity and keep it a secret from her. He has to be honest with her, no matter what wrath he might face. She will most likely be a little angry with him, but he'll argue that he didn't really mean to put the pieces together leading to her identity. It just sort of happened by accident.

He's known her for years as Ladybug and as her civilian self. With university right around the corner, he feels like it's now or never in terms of revealing what he knows.

He finally gets her alone one weekend afternoon once their group of friends have disbanded for the day. He tried to hide his anxiousness throughout the day, or the fact that he kept staring at her and imagining a polka-dotted mask around her eyes. He feels his throat get dry when he looks down at her now.

"Kagami, you know you can tell me anything, right?" he prompts, swallowing hard and feeling his heart beating in his throat.

She tilts her head to look at him and smiles, "That's very kind of you, Adrien; I'll keep that in mind" she looks ahead again, assuming that's the end of Adrien's thought, but something does flash in her eyes. He's gotten pretty good at reading her face, despite how well she keeps it unfazed when she wants to.

He takes her hand in his, slowing them to a stop. "And you know I'll always be honest with you"

She blinks with hesitation, sensing Adrien wandering somewhere deeper than she first thought. "...And I with you" she reciprocates, but her expression visibly wanes around the edges.

Adrien catches this and smiles encouragingly. He didn't start dating Kagami because he thought she might be Ladybug, but as time passed, he thought it would be a nice coincidence if she was. And lately, it's been seeming more likely than ever before. "Though it's okay to have secrets," he sits them down on a bench overlooking the water, "but I may have realized one of yours by accident..." Kagami's eyes widen. "And before you say anything, it's okay. I know you had to keep it under wraps for a long time but I think it's time,"

After a moment, she sighs, "How did you find out?" and squeezes his hand comfortingly

Adrien shrugs, smirking, "All the signs were there, I kinda put it together without realizing it" He's practically bouncing in his seat.

Her brow pulls together, confused by his expression. "I guess I wasn't being as careful as I thought. I wanted us to have more time before I told you, but I guess it can't be avoided now" her usual serious expression takes on a sad tinge. "I wish us to still be friends. Friendship is easier to maintain over long separations. I'm glad to know you also understand the strains of long-distance relationships."

He freezes, he didn't expect 'sad' as a reaction to him finding out she's Ladybug. Also, what does she mean by separation? Long-distance? She isn't going to quit being Ladybug just because he figured out her identity, is she?

"Wait, wait, wait, where are you going? You can't leave," he expresses sincerely, overwhelmed by this sudden change in how he thought this would go.

Kagami shoots him a puzzled look, "To America. For university?" He stares back at her with his mouth hanging ajar. "Anyway, when my mother found out we were dating, she just made me promise not to be in a relationship when I go to uni. And I agreed with her; I still do. I should have told you that this couldn't last past high school. I can't afford any distractions at uni, and studies show that 'high school sweetheart couples' rarely last into adulthood" she states plainly, though not without a tear in her eye.

He knew she was going abroad for university, but he never put in much thought as to what that would do for their relationship. "S-so that's your big secret? You're not..." he trails off, slightly embarrassed to say his original idea. "I mean, I understand. I would really like to stay friends. And you're going to do great things at uni." He pulls her into a genuine hug. He really cares for Kagami and wants what's best for her, and that includes not holding her back on account of his heart.

"Thank you for being so understanding. It was fun while it lasted" She briefly kisses his cheek before pulling away from their embrace. "You'll always be my first boyfriend"

He smiles sadly, "And you, my first girlfriend. Let's get you home. It's getting late" he rises and escorts her home.

He isn't sure what's more painful.

1. Being broken up with from his first real relationship.

2. Being wrong about Ladybug's identity, when he was so sure...

3. Or, possibly being right about her identity but now unable to face that he's been dumped by 'Ladybug'.

~

"Chat. Chat?" Ladybug scrunches her nose up at him. He's been staring at her for the past minute without looking away. They've perched themselves up on top of the Eiffel Tower as a vantage point, watching for any trouble on this quiet night.

She doesn't pull him out of his self-induced trance right away.

Looking at Ladybug now, it was clear that he had perhaps glossed over some details that didn't fit his theory about her being Kagami. Confirmation bias is strong when someone is so focused and dedicated to finding the result they want. Her face was a big rounder than Kagami's, her nose is a bit slimmer, her lips--

"Kitty, you're supposed to be looking at the city" she smirks, only slightly irked, not really in the mood to be hard on him. Up until now, he seemed to be in a kind of haze, deep in thought. Only now she's concerned that those thoughts had been, and are, focused on her.

--maybe he was also looking for some sort of remorse on her face, indicating that she'd just broken up with 'Adrien' earlier today, if she was Kagami. But that was more a selfish hope rather than an indicator; knowing both Ladybug and Kagami are experts at hiding their emotions when needed.

He slowly regains his focus on the present, "Sorry. How was your day?"

She blinks at this innocuous question. "Uh, good? Met up with some friends, did some homework, kinda evens out."

"That's good," he nods thoughtfully.

"How was your day?"

He shrugs, looking down, "Saw some friends, kinda got dumped,"

Ladybug gasps softly, thinking this is the sole reason for his demeanor, "Aw, I'm sorry to hear. You okay?" she puts a hand on his shoulder, genuinely caring for him.

Chat nods, trying to covertly judge her expression for any twinge of recognition, "Yeah, I understood her reasoning. She's going off to uni and thought it was best we ended things."

He sees nothing but real concern on Ladybug's face. He really liked Kagami, and perhaps he wished so badly for his girlfriend and his partner to be the same person that his mind tricked himself into seeing similarities and ignoring the differences. They were each smart and brave and beautiful, and he loved them both in their own ways. But they definitely aren't the same person, for better or worse.

"You want me to find you a pint of ice cream to binge eat?" she half jokes, not sure how to comfort him. She's never had a friend go through a serious break up, that she knows of. Her stomach turns, awkwardly offering a movie-cliche solution.

He breathes out a chuckle, "I'm good thanks". He sighs, "Can I actually tell you something?"

Ladybug perks up, "Yeah, what's up?"

"Right before she broke up with me... I was going to ask her if she was you..." he laughs to himself, "I'm really glad I didn't get the chance to ask her. It would have made things so much more embarrassing..."

A breath of silence hangs before: "What would you have done if she was me?" she responds, her voice slightly on edge.

"I don't know. Probably hugged you; and told you I was Chat,"

Even without confirming her identity, that little bit of anger does surface as Chat anticipated after all. "You shouldn't be trying to find out who I am anyway, Chat." she scolds, but there's no force behind it. "This time it wasn't me, but what if you get it right next time?"

He can only dream of a moment like that.

"-I don't want to have to lie to your face if you ever found out who I am" she finishes, crossing her arms over her chest tightly more so to hold herself together rather than crossing them in frustration with Chat. "I don't know if I even could," she admits softly.

"Then don't," he replies in a similar tone. "I trust you with my life every day, and I can tell you trust me the same way" he watches her face, innocent and attentive to what he's about to say, "I'm not saying we tell each other our identities right now, but if either of us find out our identities, let's... be honest with each other. Maybe?"

She presses her lips together, hesitating, "W-we can't, we're not allowed-" she shakes her head, as if shaking away her doubts, "I do trust you, but we can't" she reiterates, but still without any spark behind her words.

He sighs and ducks his head, "I know" he resigns, "I just want you to know me, who I really am behind all this," he flicks one of this cat ears pathetically.

Ladybug smiles sweetly, placing a hand on his, "I think I have a pretty good idea-" she looks him in the eye, "You're someone who's loyal, caring... and a bit silly at times. And maybe a bit of a dork, too." She nudges him with her shoulder "You have a big heart and you always want to share it. And your kindness... is exceptional. Knowing your real name doesn't tell me who you really are. I see who you are, as you are, right in front of me,"

Chat feels his heart skip a beat or three.

For most of his life, his name was his identity: An Agreste. The son of Gabriel Agreste. Adrien Agreste the model. For a long time, he felt like that was all he was ever going to be: an object that only existed for legacy's sake, an object that only existed in the lenses of cameras.

But since going to school, and becoming Chat Noir, he feels real; as if the Blue Fairy made him a real boy- free to make friends and exist on his own terms. He knew how these past couple years had changed how he feels about himself and his life, but he never put into thought how people like Ladybug perceive him. Sure, he's consciously thrown on 'the charm' more than a few times to try and impress her, but everything else is natural. Without the still prominent restrictions of his real life, 'Chat Noir' is unfiltered Adrien Agreste. So to be seen as his true self, reflected in the words of Ladybug, it's a feeling that is comparable to actually showing her his identity.

He did love Kagami, and part of him always will, but she never made him feel like this: fully and completely seen, even with a mask on. "Thank you-" he chokes out, trying to discreetly wipe the tears forming in his eyes with the back of his hand. His chest is tight and hot as his heart attempts to break free of his body.

She squeezes his hand, "Any time, Kitty." She shifts to stand up, brushing his hair back with her hand on the way up, unaware of the inner turbulence she's caused him.