The Miraculous Which Was Never Hers

No Stars

She held his chin and tilted it upwards, spitefully spitting the name at his face, "—Tiger."

Did he hear her right?

D-Did she just call him 'Tiger...?'

Chat's pupils trembled in his green, terrified eyes.

Iris turned towards him.

"T-That nickname..."

Chat slowly met her gaze.

Did she... know?

"Y-You're A-"

Her knees buckled and she sank down to the ground. Her stomach was in twists as if someone took a knife and repeatedly stabbed her, and her own heartbeat couldn't be felt by her.

It was as if everything in the world just collapsed.

She whispered the name airily.

"Adrien."

Chat slowly turned to the collapsed hero, a million emotions running through his head.

It was like a clap of thunder right on his head. His feelings seemed to retract themselves, much like a turtle retracting its limbs.

She knew.

"A-And you're Gaia—" Iris' brain seemed to cease to function. She broke down completely, almost as if she was caught in an avalanche.

And she was.

She was sinking deeper and deeper by this avalanche of emotions. Like being stuck in quicksand. She was shuddering and shivering all over.

"N-No..."

"T-That can't be..."

Her voice trembled. Her speech was broken and her throat went dry.

"No... G-Gaia was so nice... She's not—not you..."

There was too much happening. Iris couldn't process any of it.

Shadowbug was Gaia and Chat was...

She turned to him again, her eyes dull, shocked. Her hand flew to her chest, which heaved heavily, in a failed attempt at restoring her breathing. She felt like she was being strangled. Breathless, losing sight of what's happening, her vision blurring.

Adrien.

"Y-You're him. I-I can't believe-" Her words could barely be considered voice. It was just a bunch of syllables smooshed together to form a sound. They were a deft breath of shallow air, hazy and unclear.

"H-How did you figure out—" Chat's words were stopped by an onslaught of burning emotions.

Now that she knew his identity, would things between them be different?

Would their level of trust deteriorate? Or will it be stronger than ever?

O-Or will they never be the same?

He could feel it.

He could feel a sort of an invisible wall building between them. The distance between them increasing mentally.

They were all quiet for a long time. None of them feeling the urge to rush things.

The night that held these secrets was fading. The first light of dawn was starting to shine upon the tired heroes.

What would this day bring? They wouldn't have liked to know.

And as the sun rose upon their huddled bodies, Gaia laughed.