The Finding

Chapter One

Marinette

Marinette couldn't help but wonder who it was under the black mask. She knew no matter how much she wanted to know, she could never learn the truth. Sharing their identities could put them both in danger. If one of them got akumatized, then that would be it, they would know who to go after, civilian form or not. Even though she had told Chat that, for some reason she found herself regretting that decision even if it was the right thing to do.

She wanted to know who her parter was. She wanted to know who was behind all the stupid cat puns. She wanted to know who it was that cared for her so deeply. And most of all she wanted to know who it was she had started to fall for.

Adrien was still on the top of Marinette's list of course, but after a while of Adrien not returning her feelings, she guessed the feeling started to dull a bit. That didn't mean she could talk to him properly though. Every time she looked at him, she got lost in his green eyes, with all words abandoning her. There was no way of ever getting out of this, no matter how strong her feelings for ChatNoir became. She knew that a piece of her heart would always belong to Adrien.

"Alya, how's the Ladyblog going?" Marinette asked. Her best friend was shocked to hear Marinette asking about it, most of the time it would always seem that she would rather talk about anything else. Alya felt as if Marinette just wanted to forget about the akuma attacks, so she didn't like talking about the superheroes that saved the city. But maybe she was getting better. Maybe she was finally understanding the fact that no matter how many akuma attacks there were, Ladybug and ChatNoir would always be there to save the day.

"Girl, you know that's probably the first time you've ever asked me that." Alya said, she couldn't keep the grin off her face. "But it's going great. It's getting more and more views everyday. It even got credit on the news last week after they showed my video of the akuma."

"That's great, Alya." Marinette said, happy for her friend. She knew the length her friend went to to get that video last week. She had to save her because of it. As happy as Marinette was for her friend, she couldn't help but worry as well. "But you know, you shouldn't really put yourself in dangerous situations like that. What if you got hurt?"

"That's what Ladybug and ChatNoir are there for, girl. Plus I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Alya, defiant as ever. Marinette knew there was no getting her to stop, but the least she could do was get her to be more careful. Alya sighed, knowing what her best friend was thinking even before she spoke. "But I'll be more careful next time, I swear."

Satisfied, Marinette nodded. "But you haven't come any closer to finding out who they are, have you?" Marinette couldn't help herself, she had to ask. But as soon as the words came out of her mouth, she felt guilty. She just couldn't help how much she wanted to know, even if it was breaking the rules and putting them in danger.

"Nope, not since the whole book incident. All I know is that Ladybug had a grade ten textbook and is supposedly thousands of years old. But I doubt our Ladybug is really old. It's more likely that their miraculous' have been passed down from generation to generation. Maybe it's like a family heirloom or something." Alya paused and looked at Marinette with a goofy grin. "Maybe you're Ladybug, after all your family line goes way back."

Marinette couldn't help it as she waved her hands frantically as if cutting the idea off. "Me? Ladybug? I don't think I'd ever be able to be her, all I do is hide during akuma attacks, not run to them like you do."

Alya laughed and out a hand on Marinette's shoulder, silently telling her to calm down. "I know girl, it was just a joke. Of course I know you run the other way, just like everyone else. But there's nothing wrong with that."

Marinette internally sighed, glad Alya didn't think it was really her under the mask. She didn't know what she would do if Alya really thought that. Of course she would have to convince her otherwise, but Marinette knew it would be hard to do so once Alya set her mind on it. After the lengths she had gone to with Chloe, Marinette knew she couldn't risk having Alya on her trail.

They walked into the classroom, going to take their seats. Adrien and Nino weren't in class yet, not many people were. It shocked Marinette, usually she was late not early. By the time she normally came into class, everyone was already here. Alya had of course told her how odd it was having her here early when she first arrived, but after that it was over. Taken up with them talking about Ladybug and ChatNoir.

"But since we're on the topic, who do you think is better? Ladybug or ChatNoir?" Alya asked. She didn't know when Marinette would be willing to talk about this topic again, so of course she had to find out all she could before she closed up or switched the topic. This question had been bugging her for a while, she just had never asked her best friend about it before.

"ChatNoir, of course." Marinette said. It was simple, to Marinette at least. She wasn't her favourite superhero. Plus, she knew how much ChatNoir really did during akuma attacks, stuff that sometimes seemed to be looked over by most people.

"What are you even going on about Marinette? Ladybug is way better, but of course you would think that the lazy alley cat was better, which he's not." Chloe spoke up practically spitting her words. "He's just a sidekick anyway."

"They're a duo, Chloe. One of them is not better than the other. And Chat isn't some lazy alley cat. He's actually a really important part to the team, Ladybug wouldn't be able to face half of the akuma's they've faced if she didn't have him." Marinette said. And it was true. How many times did ChatNoir take hits for her? A lot, and Marinette knew it.

"Yeah whatever." Chloe said and placed her hands on her hips. She was about to say more when the door opened. "Adriekins!"

Marinette watched as the blonde girl ran over to Adrien, and wrap her arms around him. She watched as he leaned away slightly, not wanting to be rude but not wanting her to kiss him either. She watched as the girl who had made her life a living hell during school pressed up against her crush. She didn't like it, but she couldn't really say anything about it. She could hardly string words together to make a sentence while around Adrien anyway.

Marinette sighed, finally sitting down in her chair. Today was going to be a long day.