The Hidden Truth

Chapter 1 Marinette's Guilt

It was a normal day in Marinette's life. Alya, Nino, Adrian and Marinette, all went on a double day to the movies. After the movie, they decided to go to a cafe. Adrian, Nino and Alya were playing this game called 'the first one to laugh'. The rules were simple, one have to make the other one smile or laugh. Adrian was losing the game pretty badly. He was constantly laughing for every joke Nino made. Marinette did not join them because her mind was already occupied. Every time she saw Adrian smiling or laughing, she felt a knife stabbing her. The huge truth she was hiding and the lies she said was consuming her.
"hey Marinette, you good??" Adrian said as he saw something was off.
"yeah... I'm good" she said forcing a smile.
"If you're not feeling good, it's fine... We can go home" he said concerned.
"no no... I'm good" she said and forced a smile again. Adrian was still worried but still he smiled at her, hiding his worries behind. Seeing him smile was killing her inside.
After the date, Marinette reached home.
"how was the date, honey??" Sabine said.
"yeah, great... I'm actually full, I don't want dinner today" Marinette said and went to her room.
"is she alright??" Tom said.
"I think so... Let's just not disturb her.." Sabine said.
At her room,
"Marinette are you okay??" the little kwami said, concerned about her holder.
"yeah, maybe" she said as she was lying on her bed. "did I do the right thing?? Was it a good idea to hide the truth from Adrian??"
"I'm not sure, but I know one thing, you can't change anything now" the tiny creature said.
"you're right, Tikki.... Oh no I'm late for the everyday patrol with Cat Noir" she said. "Tikki spots on"
She reached the Eiffel Tower, where cat noir was waiting.
"hey m'lady" he said with a huge smile. "ready for our everyday patrol"
She forced a fake smile in her face.
"yes Kitty" she said.
"um... Are you okay?? You look a bit off" he said.
"oh, that's nothing.... Let's go" she said as she swung away. He shrugged and went the other direction. After the patrol, they both met in the same place again.
"okay then, I'm off" cat noir said as he extended his baton.
"wait... " she said. He turned to her, confused.
"is there something you want to say??" he said. Ladybug was standing near in the edge of the Eiffel Tower, she asked him to stand beside her. The night was quiet. Nothing could ruin the peacefulness. The wind blew on their face as they stood.
"I... I..." she stumbled, trying to get the right words.
"you know you can say anything to me right??" he reassured her.
"spots off" she said. It was more like a whisper.
"Marinette" he gasped. Then he said laughing.
"why are you laughing??" she said.
"you were worried for this?? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your identity... This kitten will have your secret safe" he said.
"I'm not done" she said.
"what else do you have, m'lady??"
"do you remember my final battle with monarch"
"I was not there, but I remember you said that Gabriel Agreste, defended Monarch by making the wish" he said.
"you remember what I said about monarch?"
"yeah, you said you didn't know the identity of monarch... " he said.
"I... I..." she stumbled again.
"you?"
"I lied" she said beating her lips.
"what? Why?" he said surprised. "who's monarch then??" he asked.
"Gabriel Agreste" she said and turned her face away.
"WHAT?" he said.
"Gabriel Agreste was Hawk moth, Shadow moth, Scarlet moth and Monarch" she said. "i... Couldn't say it"
"why hide this?" he said.
"because... Because... The truth is hard"
"does... Does Adrian Agreste, his son know this??" he said.
"no... I couldn't bring myself to say the truth... He would have been destroyed"
"who else knows the truth??"
"me, Natalie, Kagami, plagg and tikki" she said.
"why? WHY" he said. The last part, It was more like a scream.
"will you accept the fact that your own father was a villain and was using your name to do everything he has ever done... Will you??" she said.
"I won't" he said. Cat noir's eyes were filled up. His vision was blurred because of his tears. He tried to hide it.
"that's why"
"he's lucky to have someone like you, Marinette.... You lied to the whole world to save guard him.. You're having a knife hanging over you to save him... " he said and extended his baton. He was not ready to face her.
"can I trust you??" she said as she grabbed his hand.
"yes" he said in a low tone, which was like a whisper. He went from there.
"you think it was a good idea, Marinette?? " tikki said.
"maybe... Tikki, spots on" she said swung away to her home.

On the other hand, Cat noir just reached his house.
"plagg, claws in" he said in a low tone, just enough for him to hear.
"hey kiddo calm down" the little kwami tried to calm his holder. Adrian wanted to scream, break the things around him, just act out but the only thing he could do was to cry. His eyes was filled with tears.
"how... How could they?? Why??" he said as he fell to his knees.
"calm down Kiddo, you're going to be akumatied, if you don't calm down" plagg said.
"even you?? You know everything but still you kept quiet" Adrian said. "why? WHY?"
"because.... Because... Ladybug" plagg said and paused.
"don't talk to me... I don't want you to talk to me" Adrian said and went to the restroom to change into his pajamas. He looked at himself in the mirror with tears. Even his reflection felt like a lie at that point. He broke the mirror bear handed. Blood dripping down his fists.