Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Adrien lay in his bed, staring at the vaulted ceiling. Sleep didn’t feel anywhere close, which wasn’t surprising as these were his last few hours of freedom before Fashion Week started. Adrien would be missing a whole week of school and would have even less free time than normal. 

Adrien was not excited. 

And tonight he was restless. 

A run as Chat Noir would have been a nice way to get out his energy, but he didn’t really want to risk running into Ladybug. It was getting harder to hide his frustration at being left in the dark, and he didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize whatever good opinion she had left of him.

Maybe he could get a jumpstart on his school work. It sounded boring, but it needed to be done, and Adrien was not likely to have much time to work on it between fittings and shows. 

Luckily, Nino’s ringtone from his phone saved him from that eventuality. 

“Dude, what’s up? I’m so bored,” Adrien said, as the video loaded, but when it fully rendered, Adrien was looking at a black screen. Nino’s face wasn’t there and Adrien couldn’t see anything in his room. Maybe Nino had butt dialed him.

“Nino?” 

A choking sob answered.

“Nino! What’s wrong?” 

The phone moved rapidly, and Nino’s room and face flashed past. Adrien thought his eyes were puffy from crying, but he wasn’t certain as the camera settled onto Nino’s chin and neck, so Adrien couldn’t see his face. 

“Alya and I broke up.” 

…

“Nathalie! Please!” Adrien begged. “There has to be a gap somewhere this coming week.”

She shook her head. “Adrien, this week is fashion week. You’re booked solid.”

“So cancel something! Like the least important thing.” 

“Your father would have to approve that.”

Adrien wanted to tear his hair out. “So get him to approve it. He listens to you!” 

Nathalie turned her attention to him. “What’s this about? What’s so important?” 

Adrien slumped. She would never agree. “You know my friend, Nino?”

“Yes?”

“Well, he and Alya didn’t work out. They broke up.” 

“As teenage relationships often do.” 

“Nathalie! He’s my best friend. And he’s hurting.”

“I’m sorry, Adrien. I don’t see that ranking highly on your father’s list of priorities.” 

“It ranks highly on my list of priorities.” 

Nathalie sighed, and swiped through whatever was on her screen. Adrien held his breath. 

She looked up. “Maybe one of the seamstresses will be sick Wednesday afternoon and we’ll have to reschedule your fitting for an emergency evening after your show, so there’s still enough time for modifications for Friday’s catwalk. That’s only an hour, but it will be during your school’s lunch period.” 

A grin exploded across Adrien’s face. Wednesday was still four days away, but it was something. 

“Thanks Nathalie! You’re the best!” And he immediately took off. 

“I said maybe!” she shouted after him. But he didn’t slow down, determined to get away before she could revoke her unsanctioned permission.

…

Adrine’s phone binged with a notification. He opened it to see a picture from Marinette. It was of Nino sitting alone on a bench in the school courtyard, his head buried between his knees.

Marinette: 

I tried talking to him, but got nowhere. He said I should focus on being there for Alya. 

Adrien: 

Are his headphones on?  

Marinette: 

No. 

Adrien: 

Fuck. 

Okay. Thanks, I will see what I can do from here. 

… 

Adrien: 

You hanging in there? 

Nino!! Answer me!! 

Nino: 

Dude! I’m in class. 

Adrien: 

How’s that going?

Nino: 

Boring. 

Adrien: 

I have a catwalk in ten. But here’s a gift card for some new music. 

Nino: 

I don’t need to buy music dude. I like indie artists. They just give away their songs.

Adrien: 

Right. Here’s another gift card for merch and another for sound equipment. 

Nino: 

Mec! Stop! You don’t have to buy my affections. 

Adrien winced at the text. He was emulating his father. He was buying Nino gifts when he couldn’t be there in person. Adrien knew how hollow that could feel, but it was all he had at the moment.

Adrien: 

I know! I know!

But I can’t be there. And I want you to know I’m thinking of you.

Nino: 

Thanks man. <3

Adrien never got the chance to respond. Nathalie swiped the device from his hand. He lunged for it, but she was shockingly fast. 

“Nathalie!! Please!” 

“This is distracting you,” she scolded. “Your head has been buried in your screen all day and it’s affecting your performance.” 

But taking away his phone didn’t help. He might have been worse with nothing to do with his anxious worry.

“Adrien!”

He jumped. “Yeah?” 

“Stop biting your lip. That’s your queue. You’re up. Stay focused.” 

He didn’t know how they expected him to do that. He walked confidently onto the stage, but his heart was elsewhere and his brain was distracted. It was probably his worst show in living memory. No doubt, he’d hear about it later from his father, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. 

Nathalie didn’t return his phone until after dinner. He immediately shot off another few texts to Nino, but he wasn’t responding. 

Adrien: 

Nathalie managed to clear a hole in my schedule on Wednesday. 

I can come to school for lunch.

It’s only an hour, but it’s something! 

Are you okay? 

He even tried calling once, but Nino didn’t pick up. 

Adrien paced anxiously back and forth in his room. Had he done something wrong or was Nino just not in the mood for talking? 

“Do you think he’s okay?” he asked Plagg.

Plagg shrugged indifferently. “He’s probably fine. Maybe his phone’s off.”

“What if he’s not fine?” Plagg didn’t understand.

Plagg rolled his eyes. “Go visit him if you’re so worried.”

“Nathalie won’t let me leave! She’s pissed at me for today.” 

“Go as Chat Noir.”

“But he won’t know that it’s me,” Adrien objected. 

“So?” 

“It would be weird for Chat Noir to visit a civilian.” 

“You've done it before.”

“Marinette was out on her balcony. I could pretend I was just passing by. Plus, I don’t think he’s Chat Noir’s biggest fan right now.”

“So you can offer him a chance to hit you in the jaw. That might make him feel better!” Plagg suggested. 

“Nino wouldn’t do that.” 

“So go see him. You can pretend you’re there to apologize.” 

“I wouldn’t be pretending.”

“Great! Let’s go!”

It was a sign of how anxious he was that Adrien transformed without further goading. Ladybug wouldn’t approve, but if she could keep secrets so could he. And if she did come across him abusing his powers for personal reasons, it seemed like she had already frozen him out anyway. This would hardly make things between them worse. 

It’s only once he’s hovering outside Nino’s window that he hesitates. Nino had been ready to blame Chat Noir for his failing relationship only a few days ago. And Rocketear hadn’t had anything friendly to say to him either. Chat Noir might be the absolutely last person Nino wanted to see. 

But his worry over Nino quickly outweighs his fears of what kind of reception he’ll get, and he taps on the window. 

He hears movement inside a few seconds later. The curtains shift, before Nino’s head is revealed. His eyebrows rise, but he opens the window quickly and moves back into his room out of sight. 

Chat Noir steps smoothly over the window sill, and takes stock of Nino’s current state. He looks absolutely terrible. He’s half sitting, half laying on his bed, his shoulders are slumped, his face is blank, and his eyes are bloodshot so he was definitely crying at some point recently.

“Is there an akuma?” Nino asks, his voice despondent and dead to the world.

Chat Noir shakes his head. “Nope. No akuma. I… uh… wanted to talk to you. To apologize. But I can go if this is a bad time.” 

Nino’s forehead crinkles. “Apologize for what? I’m the one that beat you up, aren’t I?”

“I might have heard that you broke up with your girlfriend, and based on what your akuma was saying, I thought that it might be my fault?” 

“You heard about my breakup?!” Nino buried his head in his bed. “Does the whole world know?” 

“Uh… I doubt it. I heard from Ladybug,” Chat lied. “She noticed that Alya seemed off after she tried to interview us after Wishmaker.” 

Not a word of that was true. 

“Right,” Nino says coldly. “She talks to Ladybug, but not her own boyfriend.” 

Adrien winces. He shouldn’t have come. He knew that Nino had broken up with Alya because she was lying to him - keeping secrets from him. And here he was, just adding more deceit onto the pile to make things worse.

“I’m sorry,” Chat Noir offers. It’s woefully inadequate. Why had he thought he could comfort Nino as Chat Noir? 

But Nino smiles. It’s weak and it doesn’t last long, but it’s a smile. It feels like a victory. “Naw, dude. Not your fault at all. It was super nice of you to swing by.” 

“Glad to be of service,” Chat says with a grin. 

But Nino doesn’t return the expression. 

Adrien doesn’t know what to do to make it better. Chat doesn’t have a relationship with Nino the way Adrien does. Maybe he should leave and let Nino mourn. And yet, he can’t bring himself to move. Nino’s his best friend even if he doesn’t know it, and Adrien wants someone to be there for him. 

“You doing okay?” he asks into the silence. 

Nino shrugs. “Not really.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Chat offers.

“Didn’t realize offering an ear was part of your superhero responsibilities.” 

“Can’t let fellow miraculous holders get akumatized,” Chat says lightly. 

Nino jumps, throwing a glance his way. “I didn’t realize you knew my identity.” 

Chat rubs the back of his neck. “I know most of the identities at this point.” Which is at least true, if misleading.

“Well, I can’t get akumatized anymore,” he says, holding up his charm. “You don’t have to worry.” 

“Do you want me to leave?” Chat asks, his heartbeat pounding in his head. Adrien really really doesn’t want to leave. 

Nino’s silence feels deafening.

“I’m probably the last person you want to see right now,” Chat Noir concludes, his shoulders slumping. 

“I wouldn’t say that exactly,”  Nino says. “I don’t really want to be alone. I just… I’m terrible company at the moment.”

“That’s fine. I don’t need to be entertained or anything. I’m here to support you.”

Nino looks at him then. “Thank you. I’ve felt really alone these last two days.” 

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” 

It very much feels like it is even though Adrien had no control over his whereabouts for the last two days. “So what happened?” Chat asks, taking a seat in Nino’s desk chair.

“I don’t know!” Nino exclaims, burying his face in a pillow. “Things were great! Then something shifted. It was gradual at first. She wasn’t available as often and she didn’t tell me why. Then she started keeping secrets. Then, I caught her in an outright lie. I didn’t want to suspect her of cheating. I honestly don’t think that she would, but I couldn’t think of another explanation that fit.” 

Adrien had heard all of this the night before, but Nino didn’t know that.   

“Do you still think she was cheating?” he asks.

Nino shakes his head. “No, I believe her when she says she wasn’t. But she still wasn’t telling me what was going on. I asked her if she’d at least stop lying and she couldn’t even give me that!” Nino bites out. “And I just… how do we build a life together if I can’t trust what she’s saying?” 

Adrien can relate only too well, though he and Ladybug had never actually been together, but that never stopped him from loving her. Even now, when she seemed determined to keep a wall between them, he had only tried to be there for her.

“But then I wonder if I jumped the gun?” Nino says. “Alya is a firecracker. She’s passionate and she cares about doing what’s right, she’s not afraid to act. And I just— she’s amazing! And I wonder if I made a mistake.

“I’m normally super chill. I pride myself on being a pretty easy guy to get along with. I can put up with a lot, but Alya was the person I leaned on, where I could drop all the fronts. But it was just starting to feel like she wasn’t there. But maybe I was hasty. Maybe she would’ve come back or maybe she was worth it anyway.”

Nino breaks off, tears streaking down his face. Adrien wishes he was here as himself instead of Chat because then offering a hug wouldn’t be weird. 

“It’s not like I don’t think she deserved her privacy. It’s just it felt like I was her last priority. And if I knew why, then maybe we could overcome it. But when I don’t, I’m not willing to be her last thought, you know? I always put her first.”

“Yeah,” Chat agrees, able to relate too well. He always put Ladybug first too, and he’s not sure it has ever been the same for her. He knows in his case though, he’s being unfair. He and Ladybug were never in a relationship. Well, not a romantic one, and he’s never been certain how much she values their friendship. One minute, she throws her arms around him overjoyed and relieved that her miraculous cure brought him back, and the next she calls in a substitute without giving him any kind of warning or explanation. “I’m sorry you’ve been so alone through this,” Chat adds. 

 “I haven’t been totally alone,” Nino disagrees, holding up his phone. “My best friend has been keeping me company virtually most of the day.” 

“Yeah? It helped?”

“I don’t know if any of the stuff he sent helped–”

Adrien wilts in place. 

“—but like, given what I know he’s up to, he totally had to move heaven and earth to talk to me so much, and that really helped. You know, just knowing that someone was thinking of me.” 

“I’m glad,” Chat Noir says. “I wish he could be there in person for you.”

Nino sighs. “Yeah, me too, but at least you’re here. It’s nice to get out of my own head.”

“Happy to oblige.”

Chat Noir stays all night listening to Nino talk. He doesn’t just talk about Alya. He talks about his family - how his older brother passed away years ago, and how his parents have to work a lot to make ends meet and he just doesn’t see them very often. He talks about his interests and life’s goals of becoming a director, but is afraid that’s unrealistic, but he doesn’t know what else he might do. Adrien can’t believe how much he learns that Nino had never directly shared with Adrien. 

When he catches the time on Nino’s glowing digital clock he curses. “I need to get back before someone notices I’m gone,” he says, rolling to his feet. 

“Someone’s gonna check on you at four in the morning, dude?” 

“Maybe by five, yeah. So I have to get back before then.” 

“Dude! That sucks!”

Chat shrugs. “You get used to it.” 

“Umm… before you go…?” Nino trails off and ducks his head under the bill of his hat.

“Yeah?” 

“Thank you, dude. It was super nice of you to come check up on me and hang out with me especially after how I treated you.” 

“How your akuma treated me,” Chat corrects. “Not your fault.” 

Nino winces. “I don’t know that it was the akuma talking completely.”

“Nino,” he says softly.

“And I know I have no right to ask this, but will you come back?” 

Adrien knew he should say no. Especially this week. But Adrien had no time, and Nino needed someone. “Yeah, I can come back. Maybe not every night, but yeah, I can come back.” 

… 

Adrien is the walking dead on the catwalk the next morning. His makeup artist of the day definitely has some choice words for Adrien the second he walks in. But despite his fatigue, he does far better on Day Two’s show if only because he can pull off the smirks and smiles. Between sets, he manages to sneak in a video call to Nino who answers immediately.

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but Adrien thought Nino looked a little better. He had bags under his eyes, like Adrien, but his gaze is warm instead of flat, and his smiles are still brief, but they’re genuine.

“You doing better today?” Adrien asks after a few moments.

Nino’s face lights up. “Yeah dude, I… I think I am. At least little bit.”

“That’s awesome. Here’s to hoping that trend continues.”

Adrien would see to it that it did.

…

Chapter Text

After Chat Noir left, Nino didn’t bother trying to go back to sleep. Maybe he should have, but he didn’t think he could handle just laying there. That would give his mind too much space to spiral. 

So he got up and tried to work on a remix for one of his favorite songs, but he couldn’t focus on that either and every edit he made felt like it was in the wrong direction. He gave up within ten minutes, and  trudged downstairs. 

It was probably just after five in the morning, but Nino didn’t bother to check the time. His maman wasn’t yet home from her night shift, and no one else was up. Perhaps Nino could make everyone breakfast. 

He went through the fridge and the pantry twice, and nothing seemed remotely appealing or worth the effort.

Nino could not make breakfast. 

Maybe Nino could buy breakfast.

 There was a little bakery on the corner that his maman liked and sometimes ordered from when things got too hectic, so he grabbed his hat and a sweater and went out.

The frigid morning air was an assault on his dry and irritated eyes, but he didn’t care. It was nice to feel something that wasn’t his feelings. 

He bought a dozen pastries, making sure to pick out at least two of everyone’s favorites plus a few randoms for variety. He texted his maman a picture so she knew breakfast was taken care of, and then made the short walk back home. 

Maman:

Nino! What are you doing up so early? 

Nino:

Couldn’t sleep. 

Maman: 

You okay?

I’ll be home in twenty. 

How much were the pastries?

Nino:

I’m fine. 

Don’t worry about it. I have it covered. 

Do you mind if I head to school early? 

Honestly he wouldn’t have minded a hug from his maman, but he didn’t think it was worth her anxious hovering.

Maman:

Are you sure you don’t want to stay home for a day? Let yourself cry? 

Nino:

Yes, I’m sure. Rather be distracted.

Maman:

Be safe. 😘 

Any requests for dinner? 

Nino:

Whatever is fine. 

He stepped back outside, put on his headphones, and turned up the volume almost as high as it would go. The sun had just peeked over the horizon. Nino couldn’t remember the last time he had seen a sunrise. He normally hated being up this early.

Maybe staying up this late wasn’t that out of character though. 

The song ended and the next one began, but as soon as the intro began Nino’s eyes welled with tears and his throat lodged closed. The song was one of Alya’s favorites. One that he had remixed for her a month prior. 

He made it to a concrete bench and just lost it. His throat crumbling, his gut churning and trembling.

He ripped the headphones off, and buried his head between his knees. 

He and Alya had dated for over a year. He had thought they would last forever. He pulled up her contact, and thumbed over her profile picture, which was a shot of her with her head thrown back laughing. He smiled. God, he loved her laugh - unrestrained and unapologetically loud.

He hovered over the call button. He had broken up with her. She hadn’t wanted to. Maybe, maybe if he called her now and said that he couldn’t do it, that he was insane, she’d want to get back together. 

“Nino, I can’t… I can’t tell you this. I wish that I could, but I can’t. It doesn’t mean I don’t trust you, or love you. I do!”

“Youre allowed to keep things to yourself. I didn’t realize you were, but you are. Can you just promise that you’ll drop the lies?” he asked. 

Her face crumpled. And he knew that he couldn’t have even that much. 

“Ah. Got it.” He was shocked at how calm he felt. 

“Nino, please!” she cried, reaching for him.

But he blocked her arms. “I can’t do this anymore.” 

A sob tore out of her throat. The sound raked over his skin and burned into his pores. He couldn’t stand it, so he ran. 

He shoved the phone off his lap to the bench, flipping it screen side down, and cried harder. 

He didn’t want this, but he couldn’t go back either. He couldn’t handle being suspicious of everything she said or jealous everytime she confided in someone else. 

His phone buzzed against his thigh. 

Adrien:

Thinking of you. 💚 

Then a series of images from backstage of whatever show Adrien was about to partake rapidly came in one after another. The last shot was a selfie. Adrien wore a brown knitted sweater blazer with a flower pattern embroidered onto the front. It literally looked like something a white old lady would make. Adrien wore it open without a shirt over a pair of camo shorts and spiky black boots. Adrien’s silly grin made the outfit all the more ridiculous. 

Nino exploded into laughter. He definitely didn’t understand haute couture at all.

Nino: 

DUDE!! WHAT are you wearing?! 

Adrien: 

I’ll have you know these are exclusive inside peeks of the hottest looks of the season. You could sell them for hundreds if you did it in the next ten minutes. 

Nino barked another laugh, and wiped the remnant tears from his face.

Nino:

Knock ‘em dead stud!! 

And then before he overthought it, typed out a second message. 

Thank you. 

Nino slipped his headphones back on, switched to his studying playlist - a playlist that didn’t have a lot of associations with Alya, and resumed his walk to school.

Normally Nino would have found a bench in the courtyard, but he didn’t really want anyone to see him. He knew this early, his homeroom would be open and empty. 

He was correct. He slid into his seat, and pulled out yesterday’s math homework. He definitely didn’t want to work on the assignment, but not having anything to think about sounded far worse. And three problems in, he realized it was actually helpful - he had no room to feel when he was concentrating on the procedural steps. He tapped his pencil rhythmically in time with his music as he considered the next problem that he wasn’t sure how to start. 

That was when Alya walked in and froze. His heart immediately jumped to his throat and his whole body tensed. He did not look up at her. He couldn’t look at her. He wasn’t strong enough. 

“Hey,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“Hey,” he said just as dully, keeping his gaze mostly on his math homework. 

“I… umm… I didn’t think anyone else would be here this early.” 

“That’s what I figured, too.” 

“You were here first. I’ll go.”

He wanted to object, to tell her that was dumb. Surely they could at least be in the same room. They’d been in the same room for most of their classes the day before. They’d have to be for most of today as well. 

But he couldn’t form the words. The truth was he didn’t want to be alone with her. 

Who knew what idiot things he would say without his peers present to serve as buffers. 

So he just nodded, and she whirled on her feet out the door. 

He was tempted to chase her. He knew she was devastated and that it was his fault. And despite his own hurt he still loved her. He didn’t want her to keep hurting. 

But he couldn’t be the one to comfort her. Not anymore.

He shoved his math worksheet aside, no longer able to interpret the symbols on the page before him. Instead, he put his head down on the desk. A second later his shoulders started quaking again.

He prayed no one would walk in. 

But luck apparently wasn’t on his side. 

“Nino?” It was Marinette.

Nino bolted into a sitting position, desperately trying to swallow his tears. 

She placed a bag of pastries on the desk as she took a seat beside him. She didn’t hug him or say anything else, just sat beside him and stared ahead in some kind of strange solidarity. 

He appreciated that more than anything because there was nothing to say. 

He wiped the worst of the tear-streaks away, and with a deep breath he was able to offer Marinette the ghost of a smile. She offered him a weak one back in return. 

“I brought you some pastries. Chouquettes . I know they're your favorite.” She stared at her hands in her lap.

“Thank you, dudette.” Why was she being so nice to him? Didn’t he just break her best friend’s heart? 

“I’m so sorry,” Marinette says. 

“Not your fault,” Nino instantly reassured. 

Marinette glanced away and visibly swallowed. “It’s umm… still so hard to see you both hurting, and I know Adrien isn’t here all this week, so I wanted you to know that I’m your friend, too. And if there’s anything I can do to make this time easier for you - take notes for you, or bring more food, or just listen - please tell me.” 

Nino smiled again. And this time it felt more genuine. “Thank you, but like I said yesterday, I’d appreciate it if you were there for Alya more than me. I’m… I'm being taken care of.” 

By Adrien virtually, and Chat Noir of all people, despite Nino’s less than charitable thoughts and actions toward the hero just in the last week. 

Marinette smiled. “I’m glad.” 

He held up the bag of pastries. “I wouldn’t say no to more treats though.” 

She laughed. “You got it.” She rose from her seat. “I’m gonna go find Alya.” 

“Thank you. Tell her…” then he trailed off. He waved his hands in dismissal. “Nevermind.” She probably didn’t want to hear from him. 

“You sure?”

He nodded. 

Nino went back to trying to work on math problems. It was slow going and the class gradually filtered in. Marinette and Alya were the last to slip in just before the bell. He tried to offer her a smile, but it felt forced, and she glanced away anyway. But she wasn’t fast enough for him to miss how red and puffy her eyes were. 

He shrunk in on himself again, blinking back the burning sensation behind his eyes. Why did this have to be so hard?

Class was torture. He didn’t hear a word Ms. Bustier said, and he definitely could not focus on the assigned reading. The words just went in one eye and out the other. 

When the morning break arrived, Nino didn’t know what to do with himself. But before he could dwell on it too long, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and kept buzzing. 

He whipped it out and grinned at the screen. Adrien was calling. He accepted right away. 

“Hey!” Nino greeted enthusiastically. 

Adrien grinned back. His hair was slicked back in a way that Nino wasn’t a huge fan of, but at least he was no longer wearing that hideous sweater. This time, Adrien wore a different sweater - this one was buttoned up, hung down just past his knees, and fit his arms and torso like a glove, giving him a more effeminate look. 

“Now that outfit is hot.” Nino said. 

Adrien glanced down. “You think?” 

“Yes. Definitely.” 

Adrien grinned. “They might know what they’re doing.” 

“Might?” 

Adrien shrugged. “None of this stuff is practical, but sometimes, it does feel like art. And when it feels that way to me, I do waay better at showing it off.” 

Nino grinned again. “I’m glad that you can squeeze in some fun here and there.” 

“I’d rather be at school if I’m honest.”

“I wish you were here so bad, but thank you for all the pics. You’ve definitely turned around my mood at least once this morning.” 

“I’m glad. You doing better today?” Adrien asked.

Nino was surprised at how easy it was to smile at the question. “Yeah dude, I… I think I am. At least little bit.”

“That’s awesome. Here's to hoping that trend continues.”

Adrien had to leave before the break was over. They had only been able to talk for maybe four minutes. Then the rest of the day felt monotonous. Lunch was the worst. With Adrien gone, Nino didn’t know who to eat lunch with. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to eat lunch with anyone. His classmates kept trying to check in with him about how he was doing and feeling, and the gesture was appreciated, but talking to any of them felt exhausting. It didn’t come easily the way it always had with Adrien, or how it did the previous night with Chat Noir. 

No, he lied. Homeroom at the end of the day was the worst. It wasn’t his only class with Alya, but it was the class with Alya where she sat right behind him. She was literally right there. If he turned the right way, he might be able to get a whiff of her perfume. 

He forced himself to stay facing forward. 

Nino bolted from the room the second the bell rang, but once he was off campus his pace slowed to a turtle’s crawl. There was no reason to rush. There was nothing waiting for him at home. 

But he also had nowhere else to go. 

Once home, he stepped over whatever train set Noel had left sprawled over the living room floor, and trudged up the stairs to his own room. Once there, he made sure his window was open before he flopped face first onto his bed. 

He knew it was foolish to get his hopes up. Chat Noir had said he would come back, but he hadn’t said when.

He very specifically had said he couldn’t come every night. 

Nino found himself hoping anyway.

...

Chapter Text

“I don’t suppose there’d be any chance you would lend me the turtle miraculous? For like a weekend maybe? A week tops!” 

Ladybug, turned a flat eyed glare in his direction. “They’re not toys, Chat Noir.” 

He scoffed. “I’m hardly asking to play with it.”

“They’re not mental health tools either.” 

“Why not?” he asked. “It’s not like we can actually talk to real therapists about all that’s going on. My kwami has done loads for my mental health. Maybe Wayzz could do the same for Carapace. You need him to be okay, too. What’s the harm in making sure he’s not alone for a week or two? He can give it back after the risk of him getting akumatized is way lower.” 

“I gave him a charm,” she whispered, her tone suddenly very different and her gaze distant. “He can’t get akumatized.” 

“Are you okay, LB?” 

She ignored his question. “How about a compromise?” 

“I’m listening.” 

“ You can keep it with you. And he can run patrol with you when I can’t make it.” 

He blinked at her in disbelief. “Really?!” 

“I know you can keep track of a miraculous, keep a secret, and manage a kwami though Wayzz isn’t usually so bad.” 

“But you don’t want him to keep it.” 

She winced. “Nino’s not the best with secrets and he’s even worse at lying. How do you even know his identity?”

Chat winced, but was absolutely unwilling to concede the point. Nino trusted Adrien. Adrien wasn’t about to betray that trust. 

“They talk the same way,” he bluffed. 

Ladybug pressed her lips together, and he expected her to argue, but she didn’t.

She sighed. “I didn’t realize you knew Nino’s civilian side all that well.” 

He was half tempted to point out that she probably shouldn’t be fishing for information less he accidentally reveal his own identity. Though of course, he didn’t care if she figured him out, and he didn’t want to risk her anger when she had agreed to lend him the turtle. 

Why had she agreed yo give him the turtle? He had been certain she would never ever go for it. 

“I never said I did,” he said carefully. “I was talking to him after Rocketear. That’s when I put it together.” Or when Nino blurted it out to his best friend, but whatever. 

He didn’t even feel guilty for lying to Ladybug. 

It was to protect his identity. 

She did it to him all the time.

She sighed. Pulled open her yoyo and slipped out the bracelet and suddenly he did feel guilty for his uncharitable thoughts. 

He took the bracelet from her hands and slipped it over his own wrist. Maybe she wouldn’t tell him anything, but maybe she did actually trust him. At least in some ways. 

“I’m really worried about him. Both of them really.” 

Did she know Alya and Nino personally? He knows better than to ask. He can’t fish for information either. 

“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help you with him?”

She sounded so genuine, more real and soft than he can remember her being since she had taken up the Guardian’s mantle. 

He smiles reassuringly at her. “You don’t need to worry anymore, m’lady. This cat is on the job. Maybe you can take care of Rena?” 

She smiled. “She’s not supposed to be Rena anymore, but… I’m already on it.” 

That admission shocked him more than anything else she had done or said that night. Maybe she did know Alya and Nino in real life. 

Which meant there was a good chance that she knew him in real life too. 

He pushed the thought aside, knowing he could go crazy thinking about it. She didn’t want him to figure her out. 

He thought she was wrong, but arguing with her had never convinced her.

He forced himself to focus instead on the  fact that they were on the same page with regards to his friends, just like they usually were when they were facing an akuma. 

And so he held out his fist. She met it with a smirk. The “pound it!” went unsaid. Then with a salute on his part, and a wave from hers they went bounding off in opposite directions. 

…

Nino startled awake at the sound of knocking. He sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes. The knocking wasn’t coming from his door. 

“Sorry man. Didn’t realize you were sleeping. I can come back in two days?” 

Nino blinked at a blurry Chat Noir peering around his curtains. 

“I’m awake now anyway!” Nino said, grabbing his glasses and slipping them over his nose with a bright smile. It felt good to smile. “Come in!”

Chat Noir plopped down to the ground and sat down against the wall below the window.

“It was so late, I didn’t think you were going to come tonight.” 

“Yeah, I had to run an errand before I came tonight.” Chat slipped a bracelet from his wrist that changed colors as soon as it left his hand. Suddenly, it was very familiar. 

A second later, Wayzz flew out from wherever he had managed to hide. With Chat’s skin tight suit, it didn’t seem like it should have been possible for the kwami to remain hidden, but Nino was too excited to care. 

“Wayzz!”

“Good evening, young master!” Wayzz said, perching on his shoulder. “On behalf of the Guardian, Trixx, and myself, I wanted to offer you condolences for your breakup. The loss of a mate is difficult under any circumstance.” 

Nino’s smile deflated a bit, but he didn’t lose it completely. “Thanks, little dude.”

“So would you want to run a patrol with me?” Chat asked, holding out the bracelet.

Nino took it, and just held it in front of himself, scarcely believing it was there. 

“We can just go for a run? Even when there’s not an akuma?” 

Chat laughed. “We call it patrol, but yeah. If you want, we can just go.” 

Nino transformed immediately. The sudden rush of strength and power was familiar, but this was the first time that he wasn’t dashing toward an active akuma, the first time he was able to relish in the feeling of the miraculous thrumming through his veins as it washed down his form.

He closed his eyes, and just let himself feel it. The power, the freedom of it, and then he was moving. 

He bounded from his window sill, soaring into the night sky with an excited whoop. 

Chat Noir burst past him before Carapace landed on the rooftop across the street. Carapace chased after him. 

Time seemed somehow on both double time and slowed down to a crawl. He felt the adrenaline of air rushing around him, of his boots pounding on the surface below him, and his stomach dropping whenever he entered into a fall. And it was the joyous kind of adrenaline that you got from riding a rollercoaster, and less of the aluma is gonna kill you, you need to move, variety. 

But he also felt like he had more time to just breathe. Lights below from streetlights and windows seemed so small - like he was looking at a field of stars. Tiny cars and boats moving below looked like toys from his current vantage point. 

It all looked so big - so much bigger than a breakup with his girlfriend - and it was partly his responsibility as Carapace to protect it. Maybe that weight fell more on Ladybug and Chat Noir, but Carapace knew he was a part of it too. And that realization filled him with purpose and clarity. 

Chat Noir came to a stop at the tower up ahead. He settled down with his feet dangling over the edge before Carapace landed beside him. 

Chat grinned up at him as he took a seat. “How’d that feel?” 

Carapace had no idea how to answer that. “Amazing,” he finally landed on, though it didn’t feel like enough to say. Not after this gift that Chat Noir had just given him. Not after Chat Noir just showed up out of the blue to check up on him the night before. 

Nino didn’t deserve any of Chat’s kindness. He had been able to think the worst of Chat Noir. That he was annoying, insincere, a show-off, and a flirt who didn’t respect  people’s boundaries. But looking at him here, now, smiling out at the city, Nino wasn’t sure he had ever encountered anyone so genuine or kind. 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah,” Carapace managed, his voice raspy. “I was just thinking.”

“Want to share?” Chat offered. And Nino knew without knowing how he knew that the question was an invitation only, not pressure. 

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Carapace asked, glancing down at the street below. 

“What do you mean?” Chat Noir asked, clearly puzzled. “Did you expect me to be a jerk?” 

“No! I didn’t expect anything at all. But that’s not what I mean. I… I thought the worst of you. I got akumatized over it, and then beat you up.”

Chat turned away, his voice quiet. “Your akuma did that. Not you.” 

Nino ignored the interjection. “And here you are the next day, helping me pick up the pieces of my shattered life. Why?”

“Do I need a reason?” 

“I guess not. I just don’t feel like I totally deserve it.” 

Chat stared at him for a moment. “I made a friend a couple of years ago. I didn’t know how big of a deal it was at the time. This person offered to be my friend not because I had done anything particularly impressive or interesting. They didn’t even know me well enough to decide they liked me for my personality or interests or anything. They just offered to be my friend because I needed it. That day changed my life. That person is still my best friend.”

Chat looked up at him and then glanced back down. 

“And I don’t know, I try to live up to his example. I guess I’m just saying, you don’t have to do anything to deserve my attention or kindness. I’m here because you need it, and because I genuinely enjoy hanging out. There’s no other reason.” 

Carapace blinked back another round of tears before they could fall. He didn’t want to cry - not again, not here, and not in front of Chat Noir. “Thank you,” he croaked instead.

“Yeah man, you’re welcome!” 

Carapace turned back to the view.  “This is amazing! I’m just in awe. I’m lowkey jealous that you can just come up here whenever.”

Chat Noir grinned. “You’ve been up here before.” 

“Yeah, but it’s different during an akuma. You don’t have time to breathe or think, let alone take in the sights. But this is amazing. Seeing what all of Paris looks like from up here. And it’s not a photo. You can feel it in your face. It’s alive. And we protect it.” 

Chat Noir smiled. “Yeah, exactly.”

…

Chapter Text

“You have an hour and ten minutes, Adrien. Not a minute more. Do not make me regret this,” Nathalie warned, her expression stern. 

He nodded once carefully, unable to suppress the grin that bloomed across his face. “Thank you, Nathalie!” 

He bounded up the stairs to the school’s main entrance, feeling a little bit like Cinderella on the night of her ball. Classes hadn’t yet been released, but Adrien knew the bell would ring any second, and he was determined to spend every minute of free time on Nino. 

He arrived outside the classroom door just as the bell rang and the class filed out. Adrien dodged through the line and slipped through the door. 

Nino was the last one in class, packing up half-heartedly.

“Hey!” Adrien greeted. 

Nino’s head shot up, and his whole face lit up like a child’s in a candy shop. “Dude!” They exchanged their usual fist bump. “I forgot you said you were coming.” 

Adrien glanced at his phone. “I’m literally only here for the next sixty-four minutes.” 

Nino’s smile widened. “Better make the most of it then. How was your show this morning? Did they dress you up in bike handlebars this time?” Nino asked as they made their way from the classroom toward the lunch area. 

“Of course not. Can’t retread old ground.” 

Nino shook his head, laughing.

“How are things with you?” Adrien asked. “Or was that a stupid question to ask?” 

Nino shrugged. “I’m still not okay, but maybe I’m okay with that? Sort’ve?” 

Adrien nodded. “That makes sense to me.” That’s often how he felt about his maman. 

Nino’s face lit up again. “But I have made a new friend. We were able to hang out last night.”  

“That’s awesome!” Adrien said, delighted that Nino was so animated over his night spent with Chat Noir. Or at least, Adrien assumed he was talking about Chat Noir. He supposed he didn’t know for certain. “This person have a name?” 

Nino glanced away. “Uh… yes? But I don’t know if I’m allowed to share?” 

“Did you befriend another celebrity?” Adrien teased, feeling more certain that Nino was referring to Chat Noir. 

Nino’s arm pinched his shoulder. “Yeah, sorta.”

Adrien laughed. “So this is what being cheated on feels like.”

“Dude! You know it’s not like that!” 

Adrien grinned. Teasing Nino was too much fun. “So what’re they like?”

Nino glanced away, and then spoke softly. “He's an amazing listener, really good at getting me out of my own head. He has a ridiculous sense of humor. You'd find him hysterical. And he's just… really thoughtful. And he’s really been there for me these last few days when no one else was.” 

Adrien’s cheeks felt hot, his mouth dry, and he had a lump in his throat. He couldn’t believe that he had made such an impact on Nino in so short of time. “Umm… wow.” 

Then Nino looked stricken. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that to be a dig at you. It’s just—“

Adrien waved away his apology immediately. If Nino only knew. “No, no. It’s fine. I couldn’t be there. I’m glad that someone was.”  

Nino visibly relaxed, and smiled again. “Anyway, like I said earlier, we were talking last night, and I just… I don’t know. Feel like I got a bigger perspective.” 

“So you’re over your breakup now?” Adrien asked. 

Nino shook his head emphatically. “Not even close. You don’t get over a girl like Alya that easily, dude!”

Adrien glanced up at Alya who was sitting next to Marinette across the courtyard. Marinette held her hand, and in that moment at least, Alya was smiling. 

“But I guess, I just feel certain now that I will be okay even if I’m not yet.”

Adrien nodded. “I’m glad that you’re feeling better.” 

“So how did you pull off a visit during the day?”

“A seamstress got ‘sick’,” Adrien explained. 

“Ah. Got it.” 

They continued to chat, avoiding talking about Alya, though that made sense to Adrien given where they were. 

But the lunch period went by too fast, like it was flying by and it’s worse because Nino was deflating right in front of him. And Chat couldn’t come over that evening because he had sacrificed the evening to make this visit possible. 

“You going to be alright?” Adrien asked when the bell signaled the end of lunch. 

Nino offered him a small smile. “I promise you, mec. Thank the dragon for letting you come visit me today. It means a lot to me.”

“I wish I could do more,” Adrien said, giving Nino a quick hug and pulling away to exchange their not so secret handshake. 

“I know. Me too. See you Monday?” 

“Maybe sooner!” Adrien says. He knew Adrien probably couldn’t pull it off but Chat Noir would be there tomorrow. 

And then Nino went to class. 

He glanced at his phone. He had twelve minutes before Nathalie killed him, and there was no point in sticking around anyway. 

But before Adrien collected his things Alya took the seat opposite him. 

“Hey,” he greeted gently. “How are you holding up?” 

“I’m…” she looked up at him. “Is this gonna get back to Nino?” 

“Not if you don’t want it to.”

She nodded. “I’m a mess. I… My world feels smaller now.” 

“I’m sorry,” he said, and he meant it, but he hated how paltry, how small it sounded in the face of what had to be her hurt.

“I’m really glad you were able to come today. Thank you for making it happen. I know that it must have been difficult. That was the most animated I’ve seen him since… our breakup.” 

“It doesn’t feel like enough,” he admitted. 

“It was more than I could do. May I ask how he’s doing?” Her hands were clasped in front of her as she looked at him with cautious hope in her eyes.

“I… umm… don’t know what I’m allowed to say.”

She sighed. “Yeah. That’s fine. I get it. I just was really worried about him. He seems like he’s doing better, but he might just be putting on a show for me specifically—“

Adrien thought Nino might be putting on a show for him as well, but he wasn’t certain either way. He always lit up when Adrien or Chat Noir showed up, but he also looked so low, so down before Nino realized he was there. 

“—and I’m just… not used to not knowing how he is.”

“You still really care about him,” Adrien observed.

She nodded. “Of course I do. I don’t think I’ll ever stop!” 

“Then why did you keep so many secrets from him?” 

She sighed. “Have you ever had to keep something hidden not because you wanted to, but because it was bigger than you?” 

Adrien’s throat suddenly felt tight. He nodded. He did it all the time. He was doing it to Nino right now. If Nino knew that Adrien kept secrets from him, but didn’t know what they were, would he be just as hurt and angry as he was with Alya? 

“I understand why it wasn’t enough for him,” she said. “If our situations had been reversed, it wouldn’t have been enough for me either. But I wish things had been different.” 

Her eyes turned glassy, and a tear fell down her cheek. 

Adrien wished things were different as well. For both her and Nino’s sake.

“I really am sorry,” he said. 

She nodded. “Thank you.” But her words sounded hollow. Adrien felt so helpless. 

…  

The next time Chat Noir landed softly in Nino’s room, he was hyper aware of every secret that lay between his mask and his best friend.

Have you ever had to keep something hidden not because you wanted to, but because it was bigger than you?

It had never really bothered Adrien before that he kept his identity secret from his friends. He had always wanted to tell Ladybug, and had wanted to know her better than the mask between them would allow. Keeping his identity was just part of the responsibility that came with being a hero. 

But that was before he had befriended Nino as his alter ego. How much could keep the secret from everyone cost him? Adrien doesn’t want it to cost him Nino. 

Would Nino care that Adrien and Chat Noir were the same person? 

Well, he would care, but would he be upset? Adrien didn’t think so. 

But would he be upset that Adrien had never told him, never trusted him when Nino had told Adrien everything?

It was easy to push aside his anxieties though when Nino turned into all smiles the second Chat Noir appeared behind his curtains. Like he did that - made that big of a difference for Nino just by being there. 

Nino was one of the few people that genuinely seemed to want Adrien and Chat Noir to be there.

Unlike his father. Unlike Ladybug. 

And it was nice to be wanted. 

And so Chat Noir kept coming over three or four times a week. At some point it stopped being about supporting Nino though his breakup, and just about hanging out because it was fun. 

They ran patrols together. They played tag, rescued kittens, and tried to one up each other in dramatic stunts. In the privacy of Nino’s room they ate pizza, played video games, watched movies and anime, and just talked. Adrien was having a blast going on all the sleepovers he had never gotten to have. He wished he had come up with an excuse to start doing this ages ago.

He wanted to go every night, but he knew he couldn’t because he wouldn’t get enough sleep. He wasn’t sleeping enough as it was, but he couldn’t stop.

The time spent with Nino as Chat Noir was literally the best moments of his weeks, the time that he lived for.

And he was pretty sure the same was true for Nino. 

But Alya’s words still haunted him from time to time. 

Nino shoulder bumped him halfway through a game of Ultra Mecha Strike. “You okay, mec?”

“Yeah. I’m fine,” Chat said. “Why do you ask?” 

“You just lost a round to me. And you’re just quiet tonight. Something on your mind?” 

“Does it… bother you that you don’t know who I am?” 

Nino’s brows furrowed together. “No? Why would it? I mean, you know I get the whole secret identity thing.”

Adrien couldn’t explain that he only knew Nino’s identity because Nino told him because Nino trusted him. It wasn’t fair that Chat Noir’s identity was just a bit more sensitive, and that Adrien couldn’t reciprocate. Because he wanted to. 

He wanted to trust Nino with everything. 

The same way Nino did with him. 

…

Chapter Text

Chat Noir didn’t leave his room until almost four in the morning. Nino fell to his bed, grinning, wondering not for the first time, how he, of all people, had become secret best friends with the Chat Noir. 

He went to school with bags under his eyes more days than not, but he didn’t care. Spending time with Chat was more than worth it. At first, it had been nice just to have the company, but Nino quickly realized that Chat Noir was lonely too. And Nino knew what that felt like, wouldn’t wish it on anyone - especially a guy like Chat Noir who acted like an eager puppy as soon as you gave him any consideration at all. 

So Nino had stocked up on snacks and asked Adrien for the best anime recommendations, and on the nights where they didn’t run patrol, they would just chill. 

It was amazing they hadn’t been caught. His dad was admittedly a heavy sleeper, and Chat always left before his maman was home anyway on nights that she worked, but there were nights when she didn’t. And she very much was a light sleeper. Seems like they should have been caught by now. 

Because literally every two to three nights, Chat Noir turned up in his room and stayed until almost dawn. And Nino didn’t question it. He didn’t want to question it. He was having way too much fun. 

“What are we watching tonight?” Chat Noir asked as he settled at the foot of Nino’s bed. 

“My best bro recommended Spy x Family. You interested?” 

“That’s the one where he’s a spy and she’s an assassin, and only the mind-reading daughter knows?” 

“You’ve already seen it?” It seemed impossible to find an anime that Chat Noir hadn’t already seen. 

“Only the first two episodes! It’s really good! I’ll wait for you for the rest of it. I’m curious what you think of the whole situation they’re in.” 

An hour later they were discussing the nuances of secret identities and secrets within relationships. If Nino didn’t know better, he’d have thought that Chat Noir planned the whole thing. But given that it had been Adrien’s recommendation, he couldn’t have. 

Maybe he had already been thinking about it when he watched the first two episodes. 

“Don’t you think it’s unfair that they’re putting each other in danger by not disclosing who they really are?” 

Nino frowned. “But they’re both doing it.” 

“Yeah, but neither of them know that.”

“Seems to me like they both also get something from their fake relationship - like there’s something there more genuine than either of them anticipated, and given who their characters are, they’d be okay with the added risk for that alone. Especially for their daughter.” 

But Chat Noir didn’t seem satisfied with their discussion. 

“Dude! What are we actually talking about?” 

Chat glanced away. “The anime? What else would we be talking about?” 

“I don’t know. You tell me.” 

“I can’t.” 

“Do you worry that you’re putting me in danger?” 

Chat snorted. “I know I’m putting you in danger, but you at least know that and you have some ability to protect yourself.”

Nino bit his lip. That implied there was something Nino didn’t know about, which wasn’t surprising by itself. It was surprising that Chat was dwelling so much on it - that this kept coming up. Nino knew Chat Noir had another identity. And Chat Noir knew that he knew. 

“Does it bother you that I don’t know who you are?” Nino asked. 

Chat looked straight at him, and Nino’s heart took off in his chest without his permission. “I’ve never liked secrets.”

Nino couldn’t help the burst of laughter. “Dude! You’re a literal superhero. Kind’ve comes with the job.”

Chat groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I know. I know. And I had accepted it, but I also don’t usually go around befriending people in this half of my persona.” 

And there went Nino’s heart again. “Why did you come here as a hero?” 

Chat looked at him again, his eyes swirling with emotion.

“You can’t tell me, can you?”

“I mean, I can. I can tell you all kinds of stuff that would sound totally plausible.” 

“But it would be a lie?” 

Chat Noir nodded, not looking at him now.

“So don’t tell me anything then.” 

Chat looked at him in surprise. “And you’re okay with that?” 

Nino shrugged. “I mean, I’m definitely curious, but I don’t mind. I don’t want to put you in danger to satisfy my curiosity.” 

Chat Noir gave him such a relieved smile. This had been weighing on him a lot. 

“For the record, I like having you around and I don’t want you to stop coming. I also know there’s a risk. I know first hand what it’s like to be used as a hostage to manipulate a hero, and I have no desire to repeat the experience.” 

Being trapped in a bubble while a sentimonster with a mockery of his own face cornered Alya had been one of the scariest days of his life. And he had gone head to head with an akumatized Anansi, which had probably been the second scariest day of his life. 

“I know you can’t tell me everything. It’s okay. Please stop stressing over it.” 

Chat Noir offered him a shy smile. “Okay. I’ll try.” 

Chat Noir kept coming back and the topic never came up again, so Nino figured he had managed to convince Chat that he was okay with whatever secrets he kept. 

Or at least he hoped he had because he really really wanted to keep whatever this was. 

… 

Things had mostly gone back to normal after that. The next visit they had gotten their energy out running a patrol. And the visit after that they had stayed up too late watching the rest of SpyxFamily. But tonight, Chat Noir was upset. 

Nino wasn’t entirely sure how he knew that. They had been spending a lot of time together over the last few weeks, but Nino didn’t think he had ever seen him upset. Anxious? Definitely. Caught in his head? More than once, but here Chat was actually upset. 

Chat Noir sat on Nino’s bed with his shoulders slumped and his belt tail - which Nino had always assumed was just an accessory - gripped tightly in his gloved hands.

“Rough akuma?” Nino asked. He wasn’t allowed to ask about Chat’s life, and suddenly that chafed in a way that it hadn’t before. 

“She told someone her identity!” Chat snapped. 

“Ladybug?” Nino guessed. 

“Yes! That’s like the one most sacred rule we’ve been told over and over again that the two of us especially  can’t break! She’s always been adamant about it!”

“You and her don’t know each other’s identities?” Nino asked. He always thought they had at least told each other.

“No.” 

That was horrifying. Nino honestly couldn’t imagine saving the city day after day and not being able to talk about it after the fact.

“I’ve been asking almost since the beginning. I wanted us to share. I thought we would at least be able to support each other better. But more recently, I didn’t even care if she shared hers. I just wanted to tell her mine. She… knows all the others. I’m the only one she doesn’t know, but it seems like she should now that she’s the Guardian.” 

“The Guardian?” Nino echoed.

“Shit! I don’t know if I should have told you that.” 

“You really haven’t told me anything.” 

Chat’s claws raked through his hair and over his cat ears, which flickered back like they were real cat ears. 

Weird.

Nino never had noticed that before. And he found himself wanting to touch them.

“The point is, she told someone, and apparently she told them awhile ago, and she never even told me that she had told some one even though it compromises her and I should know that so I know what I’m potentially up against when I protect her!”

“Are you upset that she told someone else? Or that she told someone that wasn’t you?” Nino asked softly, taking a seat beside Chat Noir. 

“I don’t know! Both? I just… I always thought that it was just the rules. That they were really important to her. And now, it seems like I was wrong. That it’s just me, she doesn’t trust me.” He looked up at Nino then. “What did I do wrong? I’ve only ever tried to be what she needed.”

Nino squeezed Chat’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, mec. I don’t know.” 

And then Chat Noir was crying. Chat Noir was in his bedroom, crying. 

Nino didn’t think about it. He just pulled the other boy into his arms, and Chat curled up against his chest like he belonged there and just cried himself out. 

Nino was completely out of his depth. And he didn’t know what to do. 

Even once Chat had calmed he didn’t immediately move. And Nino had to admit to himself, it felt nice to have someone there. He hadn’t realized how much he had just missed the warmth of another body against his own. 

“Thank you, Nino.” Chat’s voice was so small. Like a child afraid to take up space. “Thank you for trusting me.” 

“Yeah, man. Of course.” 

“You say that it’s no big deal, but you don’t understand. No one else ever has.” 

Nino hugged him tighter.

… 

Nino absolutely could not focus the next day. And having to sit still and not listen to music was torture. He needed to move, tap, something . He needed to come up with a way to cheer up Chat Noir who had been there for him through his own heartache.  And Chat Noir had confided in him, and Nino treasured that. Whatever he kept from Nino, he obviously was still willing to lean on him. Nino wanted to be worthy of that trust. 

But he had no idea how to do that. He couldn’t even text Chat Noir throughout the day the way Adrien had done with him when his breakup was so fresh. 

Was he sitting somewhere upset and crying, unable to explain what was going on? Nino wished he knew. 

Adrien sat next to him, looking as polished as ever, but Nino knew better than anyone that Adrien’s physical appearance meant nothing. He knew how to hide circles under his eyes with the subtlest of makeup and his smiles were practiced and smooth. But today, Adrien had taken barely any notes, which meant he couldn’t focus either. Something was up. 

Nino felt bad that he hadn’t checked in for so long, so distracted as he was by all things Chat Noir. They hadn’t even been playing games online. 

Nino tapped his shoe against Adrien’s in the middle of class. Adrien glanced towards him. Nino shoved his notebook over to Adrien with a short message scrawled out in his messy handwriting. 

What’s up? 

Adrien flashed him a smile, and began writing frantically.

I’m okay. I wasn’t, but a friend took care of me last night. I just didn’t get any sleep because of it. 

Do you need to talk more? 

Adrien shook his head, and offered him a huge smile like he was so touched just that Nino had offered. The dude seriously needed higher standards. 

I’m okay. Promise. 

And Nino couldn't bring himself to press after that. 

I’m going to go splash water on my face though. brb.

The bell rang before Adrien returned, and the classroom erupted in a blur of motion. A pencil hit the ground behind him. Nino whirled around, scooped it up, and held back up to Alya with a genuine smile. Even he was shocked at how easy it was to look at her, to share the same space.

“How are you?” he asked. 

She smiled at him. “I think I’m okay. Marinette has been really good to me.” 

“The four of us should do something again,” he blurted out. It would be nice to have their friend group again. “I mean… if you feel up to that. And it’s okay if you don’t ever want to hang out with me again. I would totally get it—”

She stopped him with a hand on his arm. His eyes locked onto the point of contact, and she drew away again. “I think I would like that.” she said.

“Just to be clear, I don’t think getting back together is on the table.” 

She nodded. “I didn’t think that it was.” 

“But I think I would like to be your friend again.” 

She smiled. “I would like that too.” And then she leaned forward eagerly. “And as your friend, I’m absolutely dying to know what’s up with you walking in here with no sleep and dopey grins every other day?” 

He laughed. “I… uh… have been hanging out with a friend. And he’s… just really fun to be around.” 

“A friend, huh?” she echoed, her mouth stretched into a teasing lilt. 

And Nino’s world split in two. It was so weird to be teased by his ex-girlfriend about a potential love interest. 

And holy fuck, Chat Noir was a potential love interest!

She was laughing at him now. “You didn’t realize, did you?” 

He shook his head.

“Well, you’re welcome. You’ve been really happy lately. I… uh… I hope it works out for you.” She rose to her feet and walked towards the door.

“Th-thanks!” he called after her, two seconds too late. She laughed again.

Adrien came back in at the same time, and glanced between him and the now empty doorway Alya had just vacated. 

“You okay?” he asked. “You look like you’ve been hit by a bus. What did she say?” 

Nino turned to his best friend, feeling more than a bit shell-shocked. “Dude! I need some advice. Like, really really badly.” 

…  

Chapter Text

“Dude! I need some advice. Like, really really badly.” 

Nino tapped the side of his thumb in an agitated rhythm as his gaze flitted on and away from Adrien. 

“About what?” 

“You know my new friend I’ve been talking about?” 

Adrien grinned. “The mysterious stranger whose name I’m not allowed to know?” 

“Yeah, I think I might like this friend more than I should,” Nino admitted quietly. 

The grin fell off his face like a waterfall. “What do you mean?”

Nino couldn’t possibly be saying what Adrien thought he was saying. 

“Well…” Nino said and then visibly swallowed, “he sees me as a friend.“

“You don’t see him as a friend?” Adrien asked, his heart threatening to take a nose dive into his gut.

“I see him as more.” 

“More?” 

“More than a friend. I want him to be more.”

Oh.

Oh no. 

“Are you saying…?” Adrien couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“Adrien, I’m pan and I think I have a major crush, and like I said, I need advice.” 

Well, fuck.

What had he done as Chat Noir that made Nino fall for him? Nino had never fallen for Adrien. Not over the course of two years. At least, not that Adrien knew of. What was different? Was it just that Chat Noir was more present?

“Dude, can you say something, please? I’m trying to be chill, but I’m freaking out. You’re the only person besides Alya that I’ve ever told.” 

Adrien shoved all his spiraling thoughts into a corner and locked the mental door. Nino didn’t need Chat Noir freaking about a love confession right now. He needed his best friend’s support and solidarity. 

He clamped a hand on Nino’s shoulder, and smiled brightly. “You’re good. I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to freak you out. I just needed a second to process. I’m totally in your corner! Always! What do you need?” 

Nino had already said he needed advice! Advice about Chat Noir! This was so messed up and Nino didn’t even know. 

Only years of training in front of a camera kept Adrien’s expression smooth and absolutely unyielding.

Nino totally relaxed. “I’m sorry I never told you about being pan. I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I just… some guys are weird about their friends liking other guys sometimes.” 

As if Adrien could ever be mad at Nino for things he chose to keep private. 

“Oh! Is this something you’re supposed to tell your friends?”

“I mean you don’t have to, but I didn’t want you to think I didn’t trust you.”

“I think I’m ace,” Adrien jumped in. “Or maybe demi.”

And it was Nino’s turn to blink at him. “Oh.” Then Nino laughed. “Does that make us total opposites? I find everyone hot? And you find no one that way?” 

Adrien smiled, relieved. “Yeah, I guess it does, but I… I definitely still fall in love.”

Why did he say that?

“So you have a crush on your new celebrity friend,” who was definitely not Adrien. 

“I do, and he’s totally out of my league,” Nino groaned.

Adrien’s out of control mental wheels all skidded to a halt, suddenly unified in protest. “What?! There’s absolutely no way that’s true.”

“Dude! You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Adrien had way more of an idea than Nino did. “Do you think I’m out of your league?” 

“What? Dude!” 

“You said you’re pan. Surely, you’ve thought about it. I’ve been told I’m passably good looking,” Adrien joked to hide that he was actually stupidly nervous about Nino’s response. 

Nino snorted. So more than passably good looking then in Nino’s eyes. “I… Adrien, I don’t want to mess up our friendship.”

Yeah, Adrien didn’t either, but it looked like he had already screwed that up. 

“I’m not asking for anything. But if your objection to this guy is that he’s a celebrity, need I remind you that so am I? And you’ve always been able to see me as just a normal person. And I really really hope you don’t see me existing in some place above you.” 

“No! Of course not!”

“Then, what’s the problem?”

“What this guy’s famous for.”

Adrien wanted to shake him. “Nino, you’re literally a superhero. Who else out there could be better than you? You’re worthy of the best of them.”

Nino’s lips pressed together, but he was smiling.

“So tell me about this guy. What do you like about him?” 

And it was only after the words were out of his mouth that Adrien realized how underhanded the question was in a way. But not asking might be interpreted as him not being supportive, and Adrien was absolutely determined to be supportive. 

“I mean, he’s just been there for me. And it’s like, he didn’t have to be. We barely knew each other. He didn’t have a reason to care about a random person like me, and yet he did. He shared his world with me. And then he started confiding in me and that made me feel special. Trusted? And maybe, like I could support him the way he supported me.” 

Every word made Adrien feel worse. The reason Nino liked Chat wasn’t even real. Chat Noir hadn’t taken an interest in Nino Lahiffe, almost random stranger. He wasn’t the superhero that would adopt anyone like Nino thought. Chat Noir had taken an interest in Nino because he wasn’t some random person. Nino was his best friend. 

And while Chat Noir had definitely confided in Nino. As had Adrien to at least some extent, he hadn’t shared everything with Nino. Not the way Nino had with him. 

And Nino really did. Nino trusted Chat Noir with so much of himself.

“And I also just really like hanging out with him. It’s just… I don’t know? Easy? I just can’t stop smiling when he’s there.” 

And he trusted Adrien with everything too. 

And it’s not that Adrien didn’t want to reciprocate. He did. He wanted to so badly. He would trust Nino with everything. But it was like what Alya said. 

The secret was bigger than him. 

And he was going to lose Nino over it eventually, wasn’t he? 

Maybe not right now or even soon, but how long could he let Nino believe he was two different people without it blowing up in their faces?

But he made himself smile anyway. “That’s amazing! You deserve to be trusted like that!”

And Nino did. He deserved it all. Too bad Adrien and Chat Noir were both lying to him.

“So, do you think this guy is interested?” Adrien wished he knew the answer to that question. What was he going to do? 

“I have no idea! He definitely hangs around a lot. That has to mean something, right?” 

Did it? Adrien didn’t know!

“I know he was hung up on this girl. And she’s… oof! Definitely hard to compete with. And I don’t know if he leans in the other direction at all. And I totally don’t want to mess anything up if he doesn’t.”

Adrien honestly wasn’t opposed to the idea. In fact, it was surprisingly easy to imagine melding his life with Nino’s.

Hell, he didn’t have to imagine it. He was already spending every other night in Nino’s bed! He was an idiot, wasn’t he? 

“Dude,” Nino whined. “What am I going to do?”

Fuck if Adrien knew. 

…

Chat Noir sat on top of the Eiffel Tower wishing that his vantage point so high above the ground would actually grant him some perspective. Experience had long ago taught him that it didn’t work that way. His gaze turned upward towards the stars - few and far between when they had to compete with the city’s lights. But maybe that just made them all the more special for being rare. 

He hadn’t been to Nino’s in three nights, and Adrien wasn’t at all surprised to realize he missed him. 

He missed him a lot.

He had seen Nino in class of course where he could see quite clearly how dejected Nino was and trying so hard not to show it. And Adrien knew it was his own fault. He hadn’t missed three nights in a row in weeks, and now he hadn’t dropped Nino so much as a note or an explanation. Chat Noir had just disappeared. Nino had no way to reach out to him either, which once again just highlighted to Adrien how unfair their whole arrangement was. 

And yet, Adrien realized he wanted it. He wanted what he suspected Nino might offer him the next time he showed up. 

Which was exactly why he couldn’t go.

He couldn’t say yes without Chat Noir telling Nino he was Adrien, could he? 

He realized he could tell Nino who he was. Ladybug had told someone. 

But would Nino still be interested if he realized Chat Noir was his best friend? Someone Nino knew really well and had never considered romantically? 

Adrien didn’t understand how he could suddenly be so afraid to lose something he didn’t even yet have. But god, he was so scared to lose it. Nino’s love was precious, but so was his friendship. Adrien was greedy and selfish enough to want all of it. 

“Chaton?” 

Chat Noir startled at Ladybug’s address. 

She laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” 

He breathed out a relieved sigh. “Hey,” he said softly. “Long time no see.” 

She smiled. “Yeah. You haven’t been prowling as much lately. I’m surprised to see you tonight. Everything okay?” 

“I don’t know,” he admitted. He was definitely freaking out, but it was because all of this was good, wasn’t it? Or at least it could be. And he didn’t know what to do with good. He never got to keep anything good. “You said you told someone your identity, right?” 

Her gaze turned to the city below them. “I’m sorry. I admit that telling someone cost us, but I can’t change it now. What do I have to do to regain your trust?” 

Once upon a time he would have seized on that question for the opportunity it represented. Now, he just felt tired. 

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to ask if it worked out for you.” 

“Oh.” And her cheeks turned pink. 

There was a time when that would have delighted him as well. And she definitely looked beautiful with the color splashed across her cheek, but he didn’t feel any yearning alongside the observation. Though he did feel a huge rush of admiration. He still loved her, but maybe it was in a different way. 

“I umm… yeah, I think it worked out for me.” 

“So you don’t regret it?” he asked. 

Her expression turned thoughtful. “Well, I don’t know. I sometimes do. It did work out really nicely for me. She’s been there for me when I’m spinning wildly out of my head just in pure paranoia. It’s incredibly nice to have someone who sees and understands both sides of me.” 

He expected the words to hurt - like little barbs, but they didn’t. He felt tense, like he was bracing himself for a punch, but it never landed. Instead of wishing he was the one at Ladybug’s side getting the front row view of all aspects of her life, he found himself wrapped up in a different fantasy. One that featured Adrien getting to share all aspects of his life with his best friend turned boyfriend.

Well, maybe. Hopefully!

“But as wonderful as it’s been for me, I don’t know if it’s worked out for her at all.”

His brows furrowed under his mask. “What do you mean?”

“Keeping my secret had a huge personal cost for her because she had to start lying to the people she was closest to, and it didn’t… go over well with all the people in her life. And I feel guilty for dragging her into my web of secrets. She didn’t need that burden. If I had never told her, maybe all her relationships would be intact.”

“Even her relationship with you?”

She didn’t answer, which really was answer enough.

It was silent for a moment, but then she looked at him curiously. “Why do you ask?” 

He was blushing. He knew that he was - he could feel the heat spreading to the back of his neck. 

“I’ve recently become close to someone. It’s been really intense, and I’m loving it, but I have to keep so much from them. I’m lying to them, and they have no idea. I think we could become even closer, but… that would involve even more lying.”

“I’m sorry, kitty. I understand only too well,” and she was looking right at him. 

She was talking about him.

He gripped the beam underneath him. “I owe you an apology,” he said. 

Her brows furrowed. “Whatever for?” 

“I was angry when you pushed me away, when you kept secrets. But I understand now, that keeping them hurts too. I still don’t know if I would agree with what you choose to keep secret, but I’ve also realized that I can’t know if your reason is good enough or not. But I trust you and I trust your intentions even if I might make a different decision myself.”

Her eyes were shining with threatened tears, and her arms were around him in a second. He hugged her back just as hard. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For saying that. I really care about you, Chaton. I’m sorry for all the hurt I’ve caused you.” 

“I care about you, too,” he told her. “And I will always have your back no matter what.” 

She pulled away and dabbed at her eyes. “And just so you know, just because there’s secrets between you and your friend, that doesn’t mean your connection isn’t real.”

“Yeah, thanks, LB. I think you’re right.” 

Adrien still didn’t know what to do - to tell Nino everything at the cost of dragging him into all things miraculous, to try as they were and have it all potentially blow up in their faces later, or to not try and just wonder.

He doesn’t know what’s worse, or what’s better. 

But he knew that Nino missed Chat Noir, and Chat Noir missed him. 

Maybe he could start there. 

…

Chapter Text

Chat Noir hadn’t been by to visit for three nights in a row and Nino was going out of his mind.

The first night had been fine. Nino had known Chat wouldn’t make an appearance having been there the night before as he never showed two nights in a row. Nino wasn’t sure he was ready to face him anyway, having only realized how he felt. He had poured himself into making a Chat Noir inspired playlist. Nino would give it to him the next time he saw him, though he hadn’t decided if he would admit what it meant yet.

The next night, Nino paced back and forth between his bed and the window he now always left open no matter the weather. He wanted Chat to make an appearance, but if he did, Nino wasn’t sure if he could pull off any semblance of acting normal while he also didn’t think he was ready to say anything.

But it hadn’t mattered because Chat hadn’t shown, which wasn’t entirely abnormal, but had become a rare occurrence. Once the clock read just past midnight, he dragged himself to bed, trying to convince himself that he wasn’t disappointed. 

He failed. 

He also didn’t sleep very much.

Nino had been certain Chat Noir would show on the third night. He never went more than two nights without stopping by. Not anymore anyway. He listened to his new playlist three times in a row before he realized it was pushing eleven o’clock. Chat usually was here by now, which meant he probably wasn’t coming. 

Nino’s throat felt tight. Had he done something wrong? And it was hard not to replay every word of their last interaction in his head especially when their last sleepover hadn’t been exactly normal. But Chat had been upset with Ladybug, not with him. The more he thought about it Nino really didn’t think Chat Noir had any reason to be unhappy with him.

But it wasn’t like Nino could ask. 

Which led Nino to another chilling thought. 

What if something had happened to Chat Noir’s civilian self? Would Nino ever know? 

He tore his headphones off and bolted towards his computer. He was being ridiculous. He knew that he was. There were a million explanations for what might have kept Chat away. He clicked onto the Ladyblog anyway, checking for sightings. But the most recent picture in the comments was old. Nino didn’t even have to glance at the timestamp because the picture included Carapace. In the picture, Chat Noir was grinning at him, his strangely feline eyes warm with mirth and what Nino hoped was more than friendly affection, though he suspected it was wishful thinking on his part.

Nino closed out of the tab immediately. He didn’t want to read more into it than was there.

But without the picture serving as distraction, he went back to worrying. He wished he had his miraculous so he could go out for a run, or even go in search of a missing Chat Noir. 

Nino also wished he could text or call or something , but he didn’t have a way of contacting Chat, and if someone did send Alya a sighting, she likely wouldn’t post it until the next morning if she posted it at all.

Wait! Maybe she had received something that wasn’t up yet. She would be willing to share with him, right? 

He pulled up her text thread. The most recent text was from the day they broke up. 

Nino: 

Can we get together tonight? Just talk things out?

Alya: 

Sure! See you later. Love ya!

He stared at the exchange, surprised at how much it didn’t hurt. But could he really follow that up with his anxious question? Was it right for him to text his ex-girlfriend about the boy he currently liked at all? 

He groaned. 

Why did the Ladyblogger have to be his ex-girlfriend?! 

But then again, if he didn’t have a personal connection with her, he wouldn’t have been able to ask at all. 

Nino:

Hey. Have there been any Ladybug or Chat Noir sightings today or yesterday? 

Alya: 

Yeah. They’re on top of the Eiffel Tower. 

His phone dinged a second time as a picture came in. His heart rose into his throat at the sight of Ladybug and Chat Noir locked in an embrace. She was clearly crying. 

Nino tried not to jump to conclusions. 

Hadn’t he seen Chat Noir and Alya in almost the exact same position? 

And he knew almost firsthand that Chat Noir and Ladybug hadn’t exactly been on the same page lately. Maybe they had just reconciled and that was all this was. 

And it’s not like Nino had any claim on Chat’s heart. Chat Noir didn’t know how he felt at all and Nino had no reason to think he’d even be interested. 

But Nino would have liked to have at least told him. It would kill him to be too late by just a few days. But if Chat Noir finally got what he wanted with Ladybug, Nino wasn’t about to throw a wrench into it.

His phone buzzed in his hand again.  

Alya:

Why? 

Crap! He didn’t know how to answer that. 

OMG! Nino! 

And then she was calling him. Fuck! He couldn’t talk to her! He was rubbish at lying. But not answering would also be interpreted as an admission of guilt. 

He swallowed, and made himself answer. “Hey.” 

That sounded normal enough, right? And if it didn’t, well, at least he had the excuse that this was their first phone conversation since they had ended things.

“Is Chat Noir the friend that you like?” she asked excitedly without preamble. 

“What?!” he scoffed, trying for all the fake incredulity he could muster.

“You guys have been running a lot of patrols.”

“No,” he insisted as if that would convince her. “Chat Noir isn’t the friend. Ladybug just said I could keep him company when she couldn’t make it. And I wanted to get out of my own head, you know? Running with enhanced agility was really helpful for that.” 

Stop talking, Nino! 

She didn’t say anything for a moment. He chewed his lower lip, uncertain of what to say.

“Then why were you asking about where they are?”   

 “No, I was just… worried about uh… someone getting akumatized.” Why did he say that? He could have just said the same thing as before. That he was feeling restless and was hoping for a patrol. He really sucked at lying.  

But she didn’t question him. She didn’t say anything at all. Quiet was never good with Alya. He knew that first hand.

“Alya?” 

“Are you okay?” she asked softly. “Did something happen?” And she was asking about his “friend” again. He knew that she was. 

“No,” he said firmly. Nothing had happened. And that was sort’ve the problem. 

“Did you tell them how you felt and they said no?” 

Was she really asking him that?

“Alya,” he whined. “I can’t talk about this. Not with you.” He knew how that sounded. He needed it to sound that way. But he hated it because it wasn’t really what he meant.

“Oh.”

He cringed at the hurt in her voice. It sucked not to be able to tell her things even now. Was this what it felt like for her when she hadn’t been able to tell him her secrets?

“I’m sorry,” he offered. 

“No, it’s okay. I get it. I’m just… not used to there being walls between us. And I know I was the one to put them there. I’m sorry for prying.”

He wanted to argue. He loved that she was still interested… still invested in his life. That she was trying to be supportive of his love life in particular. 

But he couldn’t because he needed her to stop asking questions. 

For Chat Noir’s sake. 

God, he was such a goner. Which he had already known, but apparently it was worse than he realized. He buried his face in his hands. 

“It’s okay, Al. Really,” he mumbled. “Maybe I’ll be able to talk to you about it someday. Just not yet.” And he really really hoped that that would be true one day. 

“I hope so, too, Nino.”

…

Nino fell into his bed the instant he came home from school the next day. Nothing had happened, but everything felt weird , and he was exhausted, having spent the whole day feeling off balance. 

Alya was super talkative, gushing to him excitedly about a Ladyblog entry that she was working on just like she used to. They had said they wanted to be friends again, so he wanted to meet her with support and enthusiasm, but he felt awkward now in a way he hadn’t before.

Marinette had been stuttering like normal, but she had been stuttering around Alya , which was decidedly not normal. 

And it was weirder that Alya didn’t even seem to notice. She would know what those signs meant better than anyone, wouldn’t she? Was she ignoring it on purpose? But why? Hopefully not for him. He knew that she wasn’t indifferent to Marinette’s possible interest. Should he say something like she had for him?

Then, Adrien was being cagey and Nino was worried something had happened at home, but his friend had been avoidant, unable to look at Nino at all at times, so Nino had to settle for just worrying. Was it just because he wanted to avoid the probing questions? Or had Nino done something wrong? 

And now that Nino was home, he was trying so hard not to watch his open window for shifting curtains. He pulled his headphones, turned his back to the window, and hit play on his Chat Noir playlist, wondering if he’d ever get a chance to share it with him and feeling stupidly dramatic for even having that thought. 

He lay back, closed his eyes, and let the music wash over him, taking away his doubts, and just letting him ride the journey the music took him on. The only thing that would make it better is if Chat was there to share it with him, but he wasn’t likely to be there until dark. 

He had hours to go before that was even a possibility. 

But he was wrong. He only made it to the fourth track when an impossibly  smooth hand tapped his shoulder. 

Startled, Nino bolted upright, only to immediately clunk heads with Chat Noir. 

“Ow!” he screeched, pulling the headphones off as he sat up more carefully.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Chat said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I knocked, but you didn’t hear me.”

Nino rubbed at the sore spot on his head. “I wasn’t expecting you this early. I… wasn’t sure you’d be by at all.”

“I’m sorry I disappeared on you. I was–” 

“Talking to Ladybug yesterday,” Nino interrupted, trying for an easy smile, but his gut was twisting itself into knots. “Yeah, I saw.”

“You saw?”

“Alya,” Nino said by way of explanation. “Someone sent her a picture. But don’t worry, she didn’t post it.” 

“You…” Chat Noir bit his lip. “You asked Alya about me?” 

Nino fidgeted with the headphones at his neck, trying to ignore the heat building in his cheeks. “I was just worried. You haven’t stayed away that long since you started coming over every week. And I just–” Nino trailed off with a shrug. 

“I’m sorry. I should have dropped you a note or something. I thought—” 

“It looked like Ladybug was upset in the picture,” Nino interrupted again. He really should let Chat finish his explanation. He didn’t know why he didn’t want to hear it. But every centimeter of his skin was buzzing with nerves. He needed to keep the conversation on Ladybug. “E-Everything okay between the two of you? You guys are still… friends?”

Chat’s eyes shot towards him, but Nino still couldn’t meet his eyes. He rubbed at his fingernails instead. 

“Uh… yeah. Ladybug and I kind’ve made up. Not that we were broken up or anything. Just, you know–” 

Chat’s normally fluid speech was disjointed and filled with pauses today. God, why was everything suddenly so awkward? 

“But yeah, she and I are really good friends.”

Nino breathed a little bit easier at that label, and then he felt guilty. He wanted Chat Noir to be happy more than anything.

But he couldn’t deny it was suddenly easier to look up at Chat’s face, knowing he wasn’t too late. 

He smiled at Nino. “And I think it’s going to stay that way.” 

Nino swallowed. Was Chat Noir trying to say he wasn’t interested in Ladybug anymore? Or was he saying that he didn’t think they would hurt each other again? He knew what he hoped Chat Noir was implying.

“I’m really glad that you’re here,” Nino said into the silence. “I missed you.” 

“I missed you, too.” Chat Noir slipped onto the bed next to him. They sat side by side, so close their thighs were almost touching. “I wasn’t out last night because Ladybug needed to talk to me. If anything I needed advice from her.” 

“Advice?” Nino wasn’t sure what he was allowed to ask here.

“Yeah, about sharing my identity with someone.” 

Nino’s heart stuttered in his chest. “What?” 

Chat Noir took his hand and thread his gloved fingers through Nino’s. Nino stared at the sight, trying to understand what it meant. “Nino, I need to tell you who I am.”

“W-why?” Nino wasn’t sure why he was objecting. Chat could tell him anything. “I’ve told you it’s fine.”

“Because I just do. You’ll understand when you know.”

Nino waited, barely daring to breathe as his heart thudded so loudly in his chest, he was surprised Chat Noir didn’t tease him. But then, the silence stretched from a normal length pause to absolutely nerve-wracking. Chat didn’t say anything, and a second later he was shaking, trembling in Nino’s hold. 

And somehow Chat’s obvious distress seemed to wipe out his own anxiousness.

Nino squeezed Chat’s hand with both of his. “Hey. Look at me.” And Nino’s vision filled with feline slitted green eyes. Nino smiled gently. “You don’t have to tell me.” 

Chat shook his head violently. “You deserve to know.” 

Nino smiled again. “Maybe. But I can wait until you’re ready to tell me.” 

Chat couldn’t meet his eyes. “You’re going to be so mad when I tell you.” 

Nino laughed. “Dude! I promise I won’t be.” 

Chat tried to pull away, but Nino held firm. “You can’t promise that! You don’t know that!”

Nino didn’t know how to reassure Chat that he meant every word. He would wait. And when Chat was ready it would be okay, whenever that was. 

And so he did the only thing he could think of. 

Nino leaned forward and kissed him.

He was unprepared for Chat Noir’s response. His breath was hot and insistent, And his lips felt as soft as silk. His claws tightened into Nino’s shirt, kneading like a kitten, and then he started purring. 

Nino gasped at the sensation, pleasant tingles shooting down his spine. Goosebumps broke out across his arms and neck. Chat’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer, and Nino found himself hoisted up off the bed like he weighed no more than a doll. Maybe he didn’t in Chat’s miraculous strength-enhanced hold.

Nino’s lips parted, and Chat seized on the invitation, his tongue dancing across Nino’s. Chat seemed to breathe in his very essence. 

And when Nino had to break for air, Chat didn’t stop. His vibrating mouth trailed from his mouth to his ear, traced down Nino’s jawline, and then moved to his pulse-point. Nino’s whole body trembled at the intensity of it. 

He tangled his own fingers in Chat’s hair, caressing over the cat ears that he had been wanting to touch for days and days now, fascinated as they seemed to flutter under his touch. Chat’s purring seemed to intensify under his ministrations, which was a heady feeling. 

Nino used his leverage to urge Chat’s mouth back up to his own, so they were kissing and sharing air once again. And just when Nino didn’t think he could handle the pace anymore, Chat pulled back for a gasp of air. 

Then their kisses gradually slowed down, and their daring explorations turned into gentle caresses, until eventually only their foreheads remained pressed together, wrapped in one another’s embrace as they calmed down from whatever that explosion had been. 

“How long have you wanted to do that?” Nino asked, breathless. 

Chat laughed. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last three days.”

“Me too,” Nino told him, kissing him again briefly, but pulling away almost immediately. “I uh… have something for you.” 

“What? You do?”

Nino pulled him by the hand to his desk chair to wake up his computer. He then grabbed the wireless headphones that he had dropped on the bed, and placed them over Chat’s human ears, and clicked over to the playlist.

The music was loud enough that Nino heard it through the seal. No wonder he hadn’t heard Chat’s arrival.

“You made me a playlist?” Chat asked, his tone pitched with disbelief.

Nino nodded enthusiastically. “You’ll have to tell me what you think,” he said loudly to be heard over the music. 

“I can hear you just fine,” Chat said, pointing to the cat ears. “It’s a super power of mine.” 

Nino laughed. “I’m especially curious what you think of the last track. I remixed it a little bit.” 

Chat moused over the track list titles displayed on Nino’s computer. “Remix - Sleepover Edition?” 

Nino pinched his shoulder with one hand. “Yeah, I uh… it reminded me of our hangouts. There’s another called rooftops that had the energy of patrols. Then this one—“ he said, pointing to the third track on the list, “—is how I feel when you’re here.” 

This time Chat Noir yanked him into his lap, and kissed him again. It didn’t last as long as their first kiss turned-make-out-session, but it was just as overwhelming. Nino didn’t know how he was going to handle a boyfriend with super powers.

“You haven’t even listened to it yet.” Nino objected when they broke apart.

“I don’t need to listen to it to know I love it. This is so amazing. I don’t deserve it.” 

“Shhh. Of course you do, now shut up and listen to the music.” 

Nino kissed him again once, then flipped around, and let his head fall backwards on Chat Noir’s shoulders as Chat’s arms came around his waist as he continued to listen to the music. 

This was different, unlike any of their previous hangouts or sleepovers.

But one thing was for sure. Nino could definitely get used to it. 

Chapter Text

Adrien woke up tangled in Nino’s limbs. He could not remember ever sleeping so well. And even now he wanted to nuzzle back into Nino’s shoulder and go back to sleep, but Adrien had no idea what time it was, but it was far too late if the light peeking through Nino’s curtains was anything to go by. 

He wracked his brain, trying to remember the day’s schedule and if Nathalie had any reason to come looking for him early this morning. But his senses were focused on the boy in his arms, how peaceful and relaxed Nino’s sleeping face was, the smell of him heightened by Chat’s enhanced senses. And he wished he could stay in this moment forever. 

His transformation was still intact, confirming that he still hadn’t told Nino who he was. He should have said it when he first got there or after he had finished listening to Nino’s playlist. He could have told him when they had been falling asleep, curled up together as they were now. 

But every one of those moments had been perfect, and Adrien hadn’t wanted to wreck them. 

He dropped a kiss on Nino’s forehead, wondering if this was ever something he was going to be able to keep. 

Nino whimpered in protest as Chat carefully untangled himself. 

“I’ll see you later.”

“Promise?” Nino murmured sleepily. 

“Promise.”

He was halfway to the window when Nino called out.

“Wait.”

Chat turned around with a laugh. “I have to go.”

Nino sat up and leaned over his desk searching through the scattered things. “Take this with you?” He held out a thumbdrive.

“What is it?”

“Your playlist.”

Chat smiled, letting his hands linger on Nino’s as the drive transferred between them, wishing he wasn’t transformed so he could feel Nino’s warmth. He almost told him then. 

He should have told him then. 

But he was going to get into loads of trouble if his room was found empty this morning, which meant they didn’t have time to talk about anything. 

Instead, he pulled Nino in for a lingering kiss that ended up with both of them smiling against each other. 

“I really have to go,” Chat said, more trying to convince himself. 

Nino took a step back. “So scat. You know where to find me.”

Adrien made it through his own bedroom window not a moment too soon. 

Nathalie was already knocking. He cursed, dropping his transformation the second his feet touched the floor, praying she wouldn’t remember he was wearing the same clothes as the day before. 

“Come in!” 

“Good morning, Adrien.”

He managed to get through the routine and down to breakfast without anyone realizing. He had been insanely lucky, and had definitely cut it way too close.

He knew it had been foolish to linger, but it had felt so good to be wrapped up in Nino’s arms even through the suit. 

Adrien already missed him, which seemed ridiculous because he was going to see Nino again in an hour in class. 

Of course, Nino wouldn’t know that it was him, so he would have to keep his distance. This was going to be so hard. 

He dug through his desk drawer, scrounging for a pair of air pods. He loaded the new playlist onto his phone, and hit play. As he listened he let himself imagine Nino sitting at his desk searching through hundreds of tracks for the ones that made him think of Chat Noir. 

The last track was his favorite, and he couldn’t decide if it was because it was actually the best or if it’s because he knew Nino had a hand in crafting it into its current form while thinking of them together. 

Needless to say, he was delighted to get the song stuck in his head by the time it was time to leave for school. It felt like spending time with Nino. 

Nino was already seated at their shared table when Adrien arrived. And god, he was beaming, glowing with so much happiness, which made Adrien’s own chest explode. 

“You’re in a good mood,” Nino commented, the happiest Adrien had seen him that whole week. 

Adrien grinned back at him, as he slid into his seat. “You’re one to talk.” 

Nino’s answering smile was brighter than the sun. Would Nino still look at him like that when he knew? “Yeah, fair. But I know why I’m in a good mood. Yesterday you were in a funk. Something good happen?”

Adrien bit the inside of his cheek. He wanted to tell Nino exactly what had happened. This was the perfect opening. 

Except that they still couldn’t talk. 

And that was assuming Nino wasn’t going to be pissed, which Adrien had not ruled out. 

Alya plopped into her seat, startling Adrien from his thoughts. 

“Oh good! You’re all smiley again! Did you tell them?” Alya asked, her face alive with curiosity. 

Nino glanced at him, his smile turned a touch sheepish. “I mean, not in so many words, but yeah?”

Adrien had to duck his face into his notebook to hide his own blush. 

“Hey sunshine! Have you met this “friend” of Nino’s?”

“Boyfriend,” Nino corrected. 

Boyfriend! Adrien couldn’t breathe. Adrien was Nino’s boyfriend! 

Alya grinned like the cat who caught the canary. “I knew it!” 

“Yeah, thanks. I don’t think it would have happened without your insight.”

Adrien threw a glance towards Alya. He was gonna have to get her something huge to say thank you too. He just needed an excuse.

“Sunshine! Have you met Nino’s boyfriend?” she asked again. 

Adrien’s neck and cheeks were blazing. “I can’t say that I have.” Which, not a lie. He couldn’t say that. Because Nino still didn’t know. 

Why hadn’t he told him?! 

He had meant to tell him. He had gone there with the intention of telling him. 

“Dang it! I was hoping you’d be able to tell me if he was worthy of our boy.” 

Adrien glanced away, feeling most definitely like he was not. “Nino seems to think he’s pretty amazing.”

Nino nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, he’s definitely amazing. He’s just so… genuine. And he always makes me laugh. And I know he can listen to me talk about anything for hours–”

Adrien wasn’t sure he should be hearing this, but he also couldn’t hold back his smile. It took years of practice at holding still to stop himself from pouncing on Nino right then. Because he really wanted to kiss him, and he couldn’t. 

Best friend. Best friend. Best friend.

Not boyfriend. 

At least not right now. 

And now, Adrien had no idea how to tell him. He had told himself they couldn’t start anything before Nino knew and then Nino had kissed him and blew that out of the water.

And now he was more terrified than ever to tell him. He didn’t want to wreck their friendship or their new relationship.

“He’s also a really good kisser,” he said, tracing his own lower lip with his finger. 

Adrien’s teeth dug into his lower lip. 

And then Nino froze, glancing back towards Alya. 

“I’m sorry. This is insensitive of me, isn’t it?” 

Alya smiled. “You’re fine. I’m the one who butt my nose in, and I’m happy that you’re happy. You’re happy, right?” 

“So happy!”

And that was enough to keep Adrien smiling all day. 

…

Adrien was definitely in a far better mood than he had been in days. He was smiling a ton, constantly humming under his breath, but he was still being super weird. Like when Nino had asked if something good had happened, Adrien had shut down. 

During the morning break Nino finally caught a full measure of the song Adrien had been humming. 

“I love that song!” It was the song he had put on the end of his Chat Noir playlist. He wondered if Chat was listening to it throughout his day. Nino hoped so. “I didn’t realize you were into indie!”

Adrien totally froze as stiff as a statue, the song dying out. See, that’s what Nino was talking about. It was just casual conversation. Why was Adrien freaking out? 

“Umm… I didn’t either.” Adrien said, glancing away. “It’s umm… a recent discovery.” 

“Dude! I have so many recommendations for you,” Nino said, trying to pretend this was a normal conversation, which it should have been.  

Adrien had turned to him with that smile then - the softest, fondest look Nino had ever seen on his face. Nino was the one who had to look away this time a it felt almost too intimate. 

“I look forward to it,” Adrien said. Nino shook his head, trying to shake off the feeling that Adrien meant a lot more with that simple statement. 

Ten minutes later they were walking to their next class, and Adrien was humming again.  

Nino knew better than to comment on it, not wanting Adrien to clam up again. He was pretty certain Adrien wasn’t even aware he was doing it. But Nino was definitely tapping along against his bag in time with the song. Adrien sang the next verse softly with a different flourish at the end of the line. 

Nino frowned. Adrien’s particular rhythm was rather distinct and wasn’t usually how the song went.

That particular variation was Nino’s remix. 

Nino stopped walking. Adrien kept going for a step before realizing Nino hadn’t kept up. He turned around, his smile easy and carefree. It was familiar. Of course it was. Nino had seen it a million times. Adrien was his best friend. 

But it was doubly familiar.

Because it was also Chat Noir’s smile. 

Only it fell off Adrien’s face so quickly, transforming into concern.

“Nino? What’s wrong?”

“You’re Chat Noir,” Nino whispered.

The blood drained from Adrien’s face, and he grabbed Nino’s hand. That was confirmation enough.

Oh god! Adrien was Chat Noir. This whole time! 

Adrien pulled him through the hallways, away from class. Nino had no idea where they were going and it didn’t matter because his brain was only capable of one thought. 

Chat Noir was Adrien. 

Nino felt like he had been hit by a train.

Adrien pulled them into some kind of storage closet and shut the door firmly. 

“How did you figure it out?” Adrien asked.

“You’ve been humming my remix all morning.”

Adrien winced. “It’s a really good song.” 

Nino didn’t laugh. 

“Are you mad?” Adrien asked, his voice so small and his eyes glued to the ground. 

Nino stared at their joined hands. He didn’t want to be mad, had said over and over that Chat’s identity didn’t matter. That he had known Chat kept a whole part of his life from him. Nino had said he was okay with it. And in a weird way, Chat had shared the other half of his life with him. Nino just hadn’t known that he had such an intimate view of it. He had told Chat Noir the night before that he would wait until he was ready. 

And really, Nino wasn’t mad. 

More mortified and embarrassed. 

And maybe a little lied to. 

And then Adrien had clearly ghosted him for days after he had admitted how he felt. 

Okay, maybe he was a little mad.

Nino had never even suspected. Nino had trusted him, confided in him. And Adrien had let him say so much that he wouldn’t have said had he known.

But Nino didn’t want to be mad. He had promised that he wouldn’t be.

“Please say something.” Adrien’s voice cracked, and his grip tightened around Nino’s painfully. 

Nino glanced up into Adrien’s face. His were wide with panic and glassy with threatened tears. His Adam’s apple visibly bobbed up and down. 

Nino couldn’t bear the sight to see his best friend who was also apparently his boyfriend in pain, but he also wasn’t sure he could give what Adrien needed to hear. 

A broken sob tore out of Adrien’s throat and Nino had to close his eyes, squeezing Adrien’s hand within his own. Adrien squeezed back.

“Nino please, I’m so sorry.” 

Nino shook his head. He had to clear his throat before he could talk. “Is it weird that I’m not mad at Chat, but that I sorta am with you?” 

Adrien still held his hand in a death grip. Tears were now streaming down his face, but he didn’t respond. He just waited, open and ready to take whatever Nino would throw at him.

“Because I always knew Chat kept a whole part of himself a secret from me. But I told you so many things as Adrien, having no idea that I was telling him.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to trick you into telling me things or anything like that. I just… that first night I wanted to be there for you when Adrien couldn’t be. And then, after that you wanted me to come back, and it’s not like I didn’t want to come back and now I had an excuse to visit you. And we could hang out in a way that Adrien never gets to.” Adrien was talking so fast, like a runaway train. “And then when you confided in Adrien about Chat, I realized that asking questions might be unfair to you, but I also didn’t want to seem like I was unsupportive. And I know Alya keeping secrets from you really hurt, and I swear I swear I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you. It’s just… Hawkmoth is after me and my miraculous—“ tapping the silver ring that he always wore with his pointer finger. “—more than anyone except ladybug, and if he gets both apparently he can rewrite the whole world and I wanted to tell you, I did! But this was so big! Bigger than me. And then, I was going to tell you last night anyway, but then you told me not to and then you kissed me and that was… well, too good.”

Nino let out a wet laugh.

“I wanted to keep that for… I don’t know how long, but at least a short time. Then I was going to tell you this morning, but there was never time. ”

It made sense. It really did. Nino understood all of it. He understood why Chat Noir’s identity was more sensitive than Carapace’s. He now even understood why Adrien had been so dodgy lately, and why this had been eating up at Chat Noir when it hadn’t bothered Nino. He had always assumed that Chat would be someone he didn’t already know. That learning his identity would just be having a name to attach to his face.

“Nino?”

Nino squeezed Adrien’s hand, and kissed the top of Adrien’s knuckles. “I just need a minute, dude. I promise it’s going to be okay. This was just so much more than I expected.”

But not all of it was bad, he realized, studying Adrien’s tear streaked face and lining it up with Chat Noir’s masked one.

“I do get it. I do. Chat told me more than that he was keeping things from me, that I didn’t know his name, that he was scared that he was doing the same thing Alya had been. I know all of that.”

“You do realize he and I are the same person, right?” Adrien asked. “Because you’re talking about him like I’m not right here in front of you.”

Nino laughed. “Sorry. I haven’t processed yet. I guess… I guess I understand now why you were worried about keeping secrets when I wasn’t. Can I ask you a question?” 

“You can ask me anything.” 

“When I told you about my crush–” Nino’s gaze dropped in nervousness. “D-did you have feelings for me then?”

Adrien bit his lip. “I… I don’t think so? Or if I did, I wasn’t aware of them. You kinda blindsided me.”

“But you were so encouraging!”

“I was frustrated that you didn’t think you were worthy of Chat Noir! That was dumb!”

“So… if you didn’t already have feelings for me, please tell me you didn’t just return my feelings out of some sort of obligation or a desire to make me happy, did you?”

Adrien paused. “I mean, I definitely want you to be happy—“

“Dude.” 

“—but that’s not why. You did blindside me, but I really really liked the idea. And I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And Nino, you have always trusted me. Between me as Adrien and me as Chat you’ve shared all your secrets. It feels like you want to share yourself with me and you want me to share myself with you. Like, you want me around. And just being with you is always so fun. And kissing you last night, like… that, felt amazing . I hope none of that felt like I was going through the motions because I had to.”

“Definitely not, but why did you ghost me then?” Because Adrien had definitely left him to stew for days after Nino had unknowingly confessed. 

“I didn’t know what to do! I didn’t mean for this to happen. You confessed to me, but you didn’t know that you confessed to me! How was I supposed to show up in your room and pretend like I didn’t know? I was so scared I was going to mess everything up and not just our relationship as Nino and Chat, but with you and me as us too. I told myself that I couldn’t let anything happen between us until you knew. Then you could decide for real if you actually liked me.”

Nino snorted. As if Chat Noir being Adrien did anything other than sweeten the deal.

“And I wasn’t sure I could tell you until I talked to Ladybug. And I came to tell you, but I was so scared to let anything change, terrified that you would be angry or that you felt differently about me as Adrien. Then you were so patient, and I loved you more. And then you kissed me and I was even more scared I would lose it all.” 

Adrien was sobbing now, and Nino pulled Adrien against his chest and just held him.

“Please, please tell me I didn’t lose you. I don’t think—“ 

“Dri? Look at me.”

Adrien looked up, and Nino brushed his tears away with his thumbs. “I told you it was going to be okay, and it is. I promise.”

“Are you su–”

Nino kissed him. 

Maybe there was more to talk about, but Nino felt the most important things were out of the way. Right now, it was more important to communicate to his idiot boyfriend that he wasn’t going anywhere. 

It felt different. Adrien didn’t have quite as pronounced canines as Chat Noir. He definitely wasn’t purring, but Nino somehow found it just as overwhelming. Maybe it was because Adrien was so raw. He tasted like salt from crying, and he clung to Nino like he would fall over if he let go. 

The night before, Chat Noir had felt so strong, like he could carry Nino through anything. Now, Adrien felt so fragile, and Nino was determined to provide shelter for as long as Adrien would let him. 

He stroked Adrien’s face over and over, while kissing him again and again with little pecks, allowing their breaths to mingle until eventually Adrien was standing on his own again.

“Are you going to kiss me every time I start crying?” Adrien asked. 

Nino smirked. “Maybe.” 

“Because it’s really hard to keep crying when you’re kissing me.”

“Good. I don’t like it when you’re sad. Because Adrien, Chat, Adrichat—?”

Adrien laughed.

“Stop laughing. I’m trying to tell you that I love you!”

Adrien did stop laughing then. He looked completely thunderstruck, and then his tear streaked face stretched into that soft smile that made Nino feel so special, so cared for—

“I love you, too.” 

—so loved. 

…

Chapter Text

Nino wasn’t sure how they made it back to class. Probably because Adrien’s willpower was far stronger than his own. 

But back to class they went even if they were twenty minutes late. It was suddenly super hard to sit next to Adrien and not be able to touch him. He was trying to pay attention to the lesson, figuring if nothing else it would make time go by faster. But right now, Nino was seeing Adrien fully and completely for the first time, and he was right there! 

Adrien’s tongue stuck out in the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on the chemistry problem in front of him. Nino had never seen Adrien do that, but Chat Noir did it all the time when playing UMS. 

Then he turned towards Nino and offered him the most brilliant smile with so much adoration and joy that Nino couldn’t breathe. 

Even the sight of the threaded bracelet on Adrien’s wrist, which Nino  now realized was his own miraculous, was doing funny things to Nino’s heartbeat. 

Nino was literally vibrating in his seat. How had Adrien managed to act at all normal over the last four days? Nino would have been going out of his mind! 

Nino was going out of his mind. 

But he dared not even to start a game of footsie, knowing Alya’s eagle-eyed gaze was right behind them. She had already given them the funniest look when they came in late together.

Of course, Alya didn’t know the identity of his boyfriend. Nino had never referred to his mysterious friend by name for obvious reasons, so why couldn’t it be Adrein? 

He had at least insisted that it wasn’t Chat Noir, and sure, he wasn’t certain she had believed him, but maybe revealing his new boyfriend to be Adrien would be the thing that convinced her.

Or maybe it would lead her straight to Chat Noir’s identity. 

He glanced over towards Adrien and was met with another absolutely glowing smile. Yeah, there was no way in hell they were going to be able to keep this a secret. It was amazing Alya hadn’t already noticed how strangely Adrien had been acting over the last few days. Or maybe she had and just hadn’t said anything. 

So Nino needed a plan. And he needed it fast. 

Adrien’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out and winced at the message on his screen. 

“What’s wrong?” Nino mouthed to him. 

Adrien slid over the device and Nino read the text from Nathalie. 

Adrien’s shoot from two days prior apparently hadn’t met expectations, so he was being pulled at the end of the period to do a last minute re-shoot, which  meant Adrien wouldn’t be there for lunch and this time in class not being able to talk or touch was all of Adrien he was going to get for the rest of the day.

Nino was bummed to say the least.

And he felt a little guilty in that Adrien’s previous performance had probably been affected mostly by Nino’s unexpected confession. But that wasn’t his fault entirely. He hadn’t known that’s what he was doing. He definitely hadn’t meant to throw Adrien or Chat Noir for such a loop. 

But it still sucked. 

So now, even though class was boring, Nino didn’t want it to end. When the bell rang, Nino just sat there while everyone else burst into motion, watching Adrien pack up his things.

“Are you pouting?” Adrien asked, amusement dancing in his eyes when he glanced at Nino.

Maybe. Probably. It just wasn’t fair. Nino had just had a bomb dropped on his head - albeit an amazing one - and now he just had to just keep it to himself all day long? 

“Are you sure you have to go?” Nino whined.

“If you want me to see the light of day any time in the next two weeks, I have to go,” Adrien said.

“Would you uh… send me some of the proofs?”

Adrien turned to his boyfriend with a delighted grin. “I will. And now, I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.” 

Which meant the pictures would likely come out better, and the whole thing would hopefully go faster, and then maybe Chat Noir would have time to visit later. Really it was a win for everyone. 

Adrien pulled his bag to his shoulder, and stood a painfully respectful distance away in front of his table. 

“So uh… I’ll see you later?”

“Whenever you want,” Nino said back, but the whole exchange felt fake. Or maybe not fake, but like they were talking to each other through a pane of glass. And it was annoying. Like, super annoying. 

So when Adrien turned to join the flow of students headed towards the door, Nino grabbed his wrist. 

“Don’t I get a proper good-bye?” 

Adrien’s eyebrows rose to his hairline before glancing at their remaining classmates, and Nino immediately let him go.

Maybe Adrien wasn’t ready to be out. They hadn’t talked about this. They would have to. Nino could hold himself back at school as hard as it was if Adrien needed him to. 

“No pressure, Dri.”

Then suddenly, Adrien was leaning forward over the desk, filling up Nino’s senses with all things Adrien. But Adrien’s mouth didn’t reach for his own. They instead went to his ear. 

“Are you sure you want to be out?” he whispered into Nino’s ear.

Nino relaxed and grinned. He and Adrien were in the exact same spot. He nodded. 

Already close, Adrien turned his head just enough for their lips to meet. 

It was mostly a chaste kiss. Mostly. Then it melted away in soft gasps and matching grins when Alya’s shrieking pierced through the room, followed by catcalls and whoops from the other four students still in the room. 

“Adrien?! Adrien was the friend the whole time?! How did I not figure that out?!” Alya exclaimed.

Adrien pulled away first. “I really do have to go. See you tonight?”

And now, those words had new meaning and depth. Nino’s teeth dug into his lower lip as he nodded. Adrien beamed back and left. 

“Why didn’t you just say it was Adrien?” Alya asked, sitting all packed up waiting for Marinette, and maybe him too, to catch up.

The answer came to him so easily. He was shocked he hadn’t thought of it earlier. 

“Because he was sneaking out,” Nino explained. “And I wasn’t going to get him in trouble because then he wouldn’t have been able to visit me anymore!” 

“How often was he coming over?” Marinette asked. 

Nino’s cheeks burned. There was no way he was answering that question. “Umm… way more often than would have ever been allowed.” 

Alya shook her head in exasperation. 

Nino glanced worriedly over at Marinette. She looked okay, but he didn’t know her well enough to know if she was trying to put up a facade. 

“Umm… Alya? Do you mind if I talk to Marientte for a moment alone?” 

Alya glanced at Marinette with an eyebrow raised in silent question. Marinette nodded and Alya grabbed her bag and left. 

Now it was just him and Marinette. Nino suddenly felt nervous. But Marinette seemed totally chill.

“I just want you to know, I didn’t mean to step on any toes by starting something with Adrien.” He really hadn’t even known what toes he might ne stepping on! “Are we okay?” 

Marinette smiled at him. “It’s sweet of you to be worried. But I realized awhile ago that I couldn’t pursue anything with Adrien. I’m really really happy for you both. It’s so good to see you smiling again.”

“Thank you. That’s very generous of you.”

“Yeah, well. I owed you.”

Nino frowned. What was she talking about? 

“You guys look amazing together! We should all do something together.” 

“Maybe a double date?” he suggested.

Her face turned tomato red. “I… umm… that bould we… you know what? I’m just going to go.” 

And then she bolted. Nino couldn’t stop laughing. 

… 

There was only one downside to being out as Nino and Adrien. Chat Noir and Carapace had to remain friends because both Ladybug and Alya knew who Carapace was. So they were running a patrol, and it was a ton of fun to chase each other through the skyline, but Adrien was struggling to maintain the proper professional distance. 

Adrien knew the trade off was more than worth it, but he kept eyeing hiding places, nooks, and covert balconies and fantasizing about how they could be put to better use if he and Carapace just happened to end up in one of them together. No one would be able to see them, right? 

But Ladybug could track his position on her yo-yo. It probably would be best if she didn’t stumble in on something she shouldn’t see. If she didn’t immediately figure him out, he didn’t want to give her any reason to be pissed at Nino for two-timing that wasn’t happening.

He sighed. It probably wasn’t worth the risk. 

But he wasn’t sure because more than ever, he didn’t care if Ladybug knew his identity. Sadly, she still cared. A lot as it turned out. 

“What’s got you down, Chaton?” 

He jumped at Ladybug’s unexpected voice. Carapace laughed at his expression and Chat shot him a glare, which only made Carapace laugh harder. 

“What’s so funny?” Ladybug asked. 

“Nothing!” Chat denied. “Are you joining us tonight, m’lady?”

“I could definitely go for a run.” They took off easily, and Adrien suddenly found it easy to keep his hands to himself, basking in the combined presence of his two favorite people in the world. 

Ladybug turned to Carapace. “How have you been?” 

“Haven't you heard?” Chat cut in, unable to resist a little bit of teasing. “He’s got a new boyfriend. He’s been pretty good!”

Ladybug grinned. “I did hear that!” She replied gleefully. “I hear you bagged the hottest guy in Paris!” 

Carapace glanced away sheepishly, smiling. Chat wanted to kiss him so badly. 

Which meant it was time for a distraction. 

“What?!” Chat squawked indignantly, turning his attention back to Ladybug. “I’m offended. I definitely come out over model-boy. C’mon!” 

Carapace burst out laughing. 

Ladybug shook her head. “Sorry, kitty-cat. No one is hotter than Carapace’s boyfriend.” 

Carapace literally fell over as his laughter doubled, and Chat almost broke down himself. Normally, keeping up an act was easy, but Nino had a way of bringing down all his walls.

Adrien couldn’t believe he had ever been terrified to tell Nino who he was. He should have done it forever ago. Because as happy as he had been before as Nino’s best friend as Adrien, as thrilled as he had been to spend more time with him as Chat Noir, it was so much more now. 

Of course Nino hadn’t wanted to end things. He had been mad but they had talked through it and now,  Adrien didn’t think he had ever been this happy. He wasn’t sure he could imagine anything better. There was something overwhelming and amazing all at once at being seen and known for everything that he was and not found to be lacking. With Nino, Adrien felt like enough, exactly as he was. Adrien didn’t know if he had ever had that with anyone else. 

Not with his father.

Not with Ladybug who he absolutely admired and respected. 

Not even with his maman who’s memory he would always treasure. 

No, with Nino there cracking up, it was hard not to fall to pieces beside him. 

“I don’t understand what is so funny,” Ladybug said, her arms crossed, her expression unimpressed.

“Maybe you should come to more patrols. Then you’ll be in on all the inside jokes,” Chat said playfully.

Carapace’s laughter instantly died out, and he jumped to his feet, suddenly alert. 

Chat and Ladybug immediately followed suit, hands on their weapons. 

“What is it?” Ladybug asked. 

Carapace shook his head. “N-nothing. I thought… I thought I saw someone, but there’s no one there.”

But Carapace’s eyes never left the alleyway. 

Chat Noir leapt down to stand next to him shoulder to shoulder. “You okay?” 

Carapace seemed to unfreeze at the question, turning to him with a smile. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Where to next, boss lady?” he asked, turning to Ladybug. 

She pointed, and then all three of them took off together. 

That hadn’t been nothing, and it was stranger still that Nino wouldn’t tell him. But then, maybe he couldn’t say anything in front of Ladybug. 

Adrien would have to ask him about it later. 

…

Nino had never minded school. But now, with Adrien’s fingers threaded through his own during every passing period, school was one of the best parts of his day.

It also helped that everyone had been so supportive. Rose had greeted them with delighted congratulatory hugs every time she saw them for the first day. Kim had shot fingers guns and started referring to Nino as “an old sly dog,” which Adrien thought hilarious. And best of all, having a new boyfriend seemed to dissolve whatever awkwardness remained between him and Alya.

“Can I talk to you for a few minutes?” she asked just as the lunch bell rang.

Adrien kissed his cheek. “Marinette and I will go claim a table.”

“So, what’s up?” he asked her. 

“You know what’s up.”

“Do we need to tone down the PDA?” he asked, playing dumb.

“Nino! You saw me last night.” 

He nodded. “Yeah, but I’m not supposed to know. You didn’t want me to know.” His voice was soft with what he hoped she heard as an apology, and not accusation.

“Ladybug didn’t want you to know,” she corrected, her voice just as soft. “Though, I’m my own person. I made my own choice.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “For not understanding.” 

She smiled at him. “I wouldn’t have understood either if the roles had been reversed. I would have gone out of my mind trying to uncover all your secrets.” 

“Such a double standard,” he teased. 

“But you look good with Adrien," she continued. "I’m glad that you were able to move on.” 

“Thank you,” he said. “What about you? Do you think you will move on?” 

She shrugged. “How do I do that when I’m committed to my secrets?” 

“You ever thought about asking Ladybug out?” 

Alya laughed. “She does not see me that way.” 

“You sure? She seems to trust you an awful lot. Trust that you definitely deserve.” 

Alya’s eyes shot up in surprise. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.” 

He opened an arm, and gestured for her to come closer. When she obliged, he pulled her into a hug. It was the first one since they had broken up, but he very much hoped it wasn’t the last one.

“And if Ladybug doesn’t see how awesome you are, I’m pretty sure Marinette is interested,” he told her as she pulled away. 

Alya waved dismissively. “What? No! She’s–” Alya cut herself off, her face blank in shock. “Oh my god!” 

Nino laughed. “How did you not notice?! I thought you were playing dumb.” 

Her eyes were unfocused, not really staring at a point over his shoulder. “I… I don’t know. I thought she was stressed. And then, she was beyond exhausted. Oh my god! I… I have to go find her!”

“Pretty sure she’s with Adrien in the cafeteria at the moment. Do you want me to distract him so you can talk to her?” 

“Would you?” she asked like it was the biggest favor in the world when really it was just an excuse for him to make out with his boyfriend for half the lunch hour.

And what a delightful half hour that turned into. 

…

There were so many good things about knowing Chat Noir’s identity. Nino could text him and call him, got to see all the time everyday at school. But the other upside was that he got to spend more time with Adrien now that he knew that Adrien could sneak out pretty much whenever he wasn’t expected somewhere. 

And so their sleepovers continued. They didn’t change all that much, though there was now kissing inbetween episodes of anime or rounds of UMS, and a lot less space between them when they did finally lay down to talk or sleep depending on how tired they were. 

Nino definitely dreaded the next akuma though. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Ladybug pulled Carapace into the fight so he could be there to have Adrien’s back. But he knew he’d have to sit on the sidelines at least some of the time and just watch anxiously.

“You worry too much,” Adrien told him. “Ladybug has never lost. Her cure brings me back every time.” 

That was not nearly as reassuring as Adrien thought it was, and Nino was pretty sure Ladybug would agree with him a thousand times. 

“Hey! I’ve been meaning to ask. What was in the alleyway the other night that had you so spooked?” 

Nino sighed, not sure how to answer.

“Are you okay if I don’t tell you?” 

Adrien was silent for a moment, and Nino hated that he was asking to keep a secret right after they had just gotten everything out in the open.

Nino glanced up, nervously. “It’s just… it’s not my secret. I wasn’t supposed to see it. I’ll tell you if you really want.” Which is probably why Alya had needed to keep it from him in the first place. 

Adrien shook his head and kissed Nino’s shoulder. “No, it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” 

Nino could feel Adrien’s grin against his shoulder even though he couldn’t see it. “Have I ever told you about this great guy I know? 

“Umm… no?” 

Adrien grinned. “So I have this friend, my best friend really. He’s always been really awesome at respecting my boundaries and privacy even when I thought he was well within his rights to demand a lot of answers. He was always super patient with me. And as I’ve said before, I really look up to him and he’s kind’ve my role model for healthy relationships. Because of that I always try to live up to his example.”

Nino swallowed a sudden lump in his throat, realizing that this wasn’t the first time Chat Noir had talked to Nino about his best friend. Not even close. Chat Noir had been talking about him months ago during their very first patrol and so many sleepovers since then. Nino had even thought he would have liked to meet this person. 

The entire time Chat Noir had been talking about him. 

“I never realized it was that big a deal.”

“You respecting my secrets?” Adrien echoed. “Of course it was!” 

Nino shook his head. “No, during our first patrol, you told me about someone offering to be your friend because you needed it and no other reason. It didn’t seem like a big deal that day to offer to be your friend. It just seemed obvious. But you weren’t the only one who lucked out that day.”

Nino rolled over so he could see Adrien’s face. The back of his fingers traced the side of Adrien’s cheek to the tip of his chin.

“I think I was also really lucky that Alya and I happened to break up during fashion week. Because if you had been able to be there as Adrien, you wouldn’t have been there as Chat Noir.”

Adrien’s brows furrowed together in confusion. “What do you mean?” 

“You being there for me as Chat Noir was like a clean slate for us - it made it possible for me to see you in a different light, and I was more free to just– I don’t know, feel things. And now, we get to have this.” 

Nino leaned forward and let their lips meet, breathing in Adrien’s tiny gasp of air. Nino pulled away before it could turn into a full make-out session, but pressed his forehead to Adrien’s gently. 

“As much as figuring out your identity was like a rug being pulled out from under me, I’m glad I didn’t know in the beginning and that you waited so long to tell me.” 

“I guess I’m glad about how things turned out, too.” 

“You guess?” Nino echoed teasingly. 

Adrien shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong! I couldn’t be happier, but do you wonder what you and Alya might have had? Maybe… maybe her secret was worth it.” 

Nino nodded. “I think you’re right. Her secret was worth it.” Especially now that he knew what it was. “But I can’t… I can’t regret it now. She and I are friends again, and I think we’ll become super close with more time. And what you and I now have because of that is something so special. You have moved heaven and earth over and over to be there for me, to be what I needed even when you didn’t think you would get the credit. You put me first before anything else. I would not trade it away for anything.” 

“I wouldn’t either,” Adrien agreed. 

“Not even for Ladybug?” Nino tried to play it off like he was teasing, but he was stupidly nervous about Adrien’s response. 

Adrien snorted. “She never saw me that way.” 

“I dunno man. I think she did see Adrien that way.” 

“What?! No way!” 

“Did you hear her at that patrol? No one is hotter than my boyfriend?”  

“That’s just because I’m on billboards and in commercials.”

Nino didn’t think so. If Ladybug and Alya were that close, there was a good chance Ladybug knew all of them in person.

“Stop! I’m telling you there’s no way!” 

“But seriously, do you wonder?” Nino made himself ask again. If Adrien was settling just because he thought Ladybug wasn’t an option, Nino wasn’t sure he’d be okay with it. 

But Adrien smiled, slowly interlacing his fingers through Nino’s. “No, not anymore. Nino, you trusted me with everything. You shared your dreams, your pain, who you are with me. No one else ever has. And you are the only person that has ever been in my life where being myself, just completely myself has felt completely okay. And not just okay. With you, I feel like I’m enough . I feel seen and I feel wanted. I haven’t felt that way with anyone else. I don’t know that I can feel that way with anyone else.” 

Nino yanked Adrien forward into another heated kiss. “I love you so much.”

Adrien laughed. It was the best sound in the world. “I love you, too, Nino. Thank you for figuring out how you felt so we could have this.” 

They didn’t talk anymore that night. 

It was the best night ever. 

…