So this is a one-shot based off of this amazing animatic by Ros Mo. Go check them out, they have amazing work.

Marinette sighed and knelt to the ground, still sobbing. It's for the best. She thought to herself. It's for the best, It's for the best, It's for the best. If I don't know who he is, I could protect his identity from Akumas or Hawkmoth if I get in trouble. It's for the best. "It's for the best." She said aloud this time. She shakily exhaled, got to her feet, wiped her tears, and walked back to her home.

Adrien was heartbroken. Ladybug, AKA Marinette Dupain-Cheng, thought that this was for the best? He couldn't believe his ears. Why couldn't she see? Why couldn't she see that if they knew their identities, their bond would be stronger? Why couldn't she see that he loved her? Really, truly, loved her? He walked towards his house, with his legs feeling like lead and his heart like stone.

"Marinette, why won't you let yourself see Chat Noir's identity?" Chat Noir was on his nightly patrol when he heard Ladybu--Marinette's kwami. Careful not to make any noise, Chat Noir perched himself just behind Marinette's chimney, out of sight, but not out of hearing range.

"Because, Tikki." Tikki. What an adorable name for a kwami. Chat smiled a bit to himself. "It's for his protection. If we didn't know each other's identities, we wouldn't be at risk of spilling our secrets if we ever are at Hawkmoth's disposal but that idea's thrown out the window. Plus, he doesn't even know me. He says he loves Ladybug. But because of the barriers that the masks bring, we barely know anything about each other. So how could he love Ladybug if he doesn't even know her? Ladybug's on such a high pedestal that I'll only disappoint Chat if he personally knows the girl behind the mask."

"But what if he does know the girl underneath the mask? What if behind his mask, you two actually know each other really well?" Tikki inquired.

Marinette scoffed. "The probability of that is very low. Do you know how many people are in Paris? Besides, even on the off chance that Chat and I are close without the masks, won't that cause tension in our relationship? I don't want to deal with the drama. The fear everytime one of us gets hurt, the arguments we're bound to have because one of us is throwing ourselves in danger to protect the other. It's bad enough to see Chat sacrifice himself for me, so imagine how I'll feel when I know the person who is sacrificing himself is someone I know personally. It's too much."

Chat wanted to swoop Marinette up in a hug and tell her that it was going to be alright but he held his ground. "Alright, Marinette. I'm going to bed." Tikki sighed and quietly floated to where Chat was hiding. "Don't worry Chat Noir," Tikki whispered, "Marinette will come around."

Startled, Chat Noir could do nothing but blink in response.

---The next day---

"Girl, what's wrong? You've barely said anything at all today!" Alya exclaimed. She was seriously worried about her best friend who had been looking upset the moment she set foot on campus. Yeah, Marinette had her off days but she was never this upset for this long and that was what scared Alya. At this rate, her BFF was at risk of becoming akumatized!

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing. Just...stressing out from all the homework and all!" Marinette grinned.

Alya relaxed. "I totally feel you! The fact that it's testing week isn't helping anything either."

The bell rang and the two girls packed their stuff to go to their next class. When they arrived, Marinette noticed that Adrien seemed upset about something. She shot him a worried glance and took her seat, too distraught and tired from her own problems to do anything else.

The day went by rather quickly. That is until the Akuma showed up. Screams filled the school and chaos ensued. Marinette tried to drag her friend to safety but to no avail. "Alya! Come on!" She shouted.

"What? No way! This is the perfect opportunity for some close-up Ladybug and Chat Noir action!"

Marinette groaned in frustration. "Listen, Alya--"

All of a sudden, Chat Noir grabbed Marinette and took her to the back of the school. "You need to transform." He said.

Marinette's eyes widened in surprise. "How--right. Tikki, spots on." She whispered. Once Marinette transformed into Ladybug, she motioned for Chat to follow her. "The Akuma's in her belt."

He nodded. "Got it."

20 minutes and one tense fight later, Ladybug purified the Akuma. Chat was about to say something but she left before he could even open his mouth.

---timeskip---

It's been two weeks. Two weeks since Marinette's accidental reveal. Two weeks since their last real conversation. Two weeks since either one of them truly felt complete.

Ladybug and Chat Noir still fought as needed, still went on patrol together, but it wasn't the same. There was no more playful banter, no more late night talks, no more laughter, smiles, nicknames, or anything between the duo. The tension between the two was so thick, one could cut a knife through it.

One night, Chat Noir went to the Eiffel Tower to clear his mind only to find Marinette sitting there already. "Right." He said. "I forgot that you come here to think too."

"Yep." She whispered, barely audible. He noticed that she was staring blankly ahead.

He sat down next to her, careful to keep his distance. "Listen--about that night..."

"It's to protect you."

"But I don't need protection. I wanted to reveal myself to you because I love--"

"You say you love me but you don't. You love Ladybug. You love the girl in the spotted suit, the confident girl who always has a plan. The girl in the spotlight. The girl who is graceful, composed. You love her. You love the mask. You don't love Marinette. You don't love the girl in the background, the girl who is a klutz, a mess. You don't love the real me."

"Marinette, listen. The day we met, I told myself that I loved the girl under the mask. The day I found out your identity, I saw the similarities and almost kicked myself for not noticing them sooner. You both are kind, quick-witted, willing to sacrifice anything for the wellbeing of others. I see you in Ladybug and I see Ladybug in Marinette. I never loved the mask, Mari. I loved the person wearing it."

Marinette felt tears threaten to fall, and fall they did. They fell like a silent waterfall, the moon's light reflecting off them, the only proof that she was actually crying. Chat's miraculous beeped, ending the tranquil silence. Chat Noir got up to leave. "Goodnight Marine--" He began.

"Stay."

He couldn't believe his ears. Did she really say what he thought she said? "What?"

"You heard me." She responded, still not meeting his eyes.

So he settled back down again. "So--"

"Don't talk."

He shut his mouth. Beep Beep. Four minutes left.

Beep Beep. Three minutes.

He glanced over at Marinette, who had closed her eyes. Beep Beep. Two minutes left.

Beep Beep. One minute.

Chat Noir glanced at his ring, watching the last pad flicker in and out of sight.

Beep Beep. As he lost his leather suit, Adrien felt the biting cold meet him. He turned to Marinette with worried eyes, only to see that hers were still closed. As he was about to get up again, she sighed and slowly opened her eyes. She turned her head and quietly gasped.

Blue met green, the forest met the ocean, emeralds met sapphires.

The world stopped for Marinette. She heard her blood pumping in her ears, its roar drowning out all other sounds. It was just her and her partner. She let out a sigh of disbelief and shook her head at the irony of it all. She denied her partner's affections because she was longing for her partner's affections.

Adrien was confused. Was she happy? Was she upset? "M'lady," he tentatively asked, "Are you ok?"

She breathed out a soft laugh. "I'm fine, Kitty." She turned her head and enjoyed the view. Adrien followed suit, glad that they were using nicknames again. Then he felt the lightest touch against his fingertips. He turned his head again and saw that Marinette had extended her hand so that their fingers were lightly brushing against each other.

It wasn't a lot, but it was enough.