A/N: Hey guys! This is my second Nino/Alya FF. Wrote it bc I don't think there's enough out there to celebrate this beautiful ship! This is a part of a five chapter arc, I might not update until more episodes of Season 2 come out bc I'm kind of going off of spoilers. (Nothing spoiled here though, I'll warn if I do include stuff from Season 2) Anyways, Enjoy! And please review! I need to know I'm not the only one obsessed with this ship!

PS: Shout out to the Guest reviewer who corrected me! I totally did not know that Carapace was the name for the turtle miraculous hero! I've made the necessary changes and will keep that in mind! Thanks :D

One

Nino walked down the street, music blasting through his headphones, as he made his way home. He'd just walked Alya home from school and was now headed to his own home to get started on all the homework he'd been assigned.

As he walked, he nodded his head to the rhythm of the music when suddenly the hair on the back of his neck began to stand. He was being watched. Nino didn't dare turn around in an obvious manner, so he casually dropped his phone, turning to pick it up and peering at his surroundings. The black tail of a cat rounded a corner and Nino shrugged it off as he kept walking.

At his parent's apartment on Rue de Plumet, Nino hopped up the stairs and into his room. It was pitch black in his room -the curtains drawn shut- but Nino knew immediately that there was someone in there. His right hand flashed on the light while his left arm swung out to punch the person who he sensed was right in behind him. His fist hit its target sending… Chat Noir sprawling to the ground.

"I told you this was a bad idea," Ladybug mumbled shaking her head. The supergirl was sitting on Nino's spinning chair, the one by his desk, facing him. Chat Noir jumped up and blurted, "I let him punch me! To give him confidence!"

Nino's eyebrows furrowed together as his eyes darted between the two heroes. "Wait, why are you here?" He demanded, his heart pounding. He slammed the door quickly on the offhand chance that one of his parents would be arriving home early from work.

Once the door clicked shut, Chat Noir stretched out his hand. He was holding a small box. Swallowing, Nino took the box slowly and opened it. A bracelet with a green charm sat in the box and Nino's eyes flickered up to met Chat Noir's.

"Y-you want me to be a hero?" Nino stammered.

Chat Noir nodded grimly and Ladybug stood, saying, "Not only that… You've been chosen to be the next Guardian."

Ladybug approached Nino with a box in the shape of a pentagon. Nino tossed the box with the bracelet on his bed and took the larger box, opening it then shutting it quickly.

"This isn't-"

"It is," Ladybug nodded. "It's where we keep all the Miraculouses… and you've been chosen as the next Great Guardian."

"B-by who?!" Nino gulped.

"By the previous guardian," Chat Noir said softly.

"Wh- did he quit or something?" Nino gulped.

"No," Ladybug shook her head. "He died."

The trio of teens went silent for several long moments before Nino spoke. "I- I don't think I can do this."

Chat Noir stretched out his arm to put a hand on Nino's shoulder. "Master Fu chose you specifically, man," he said gently. "He believed in you, we do too."

Nino crossed to his bed and sat down, shoulders slumped. His mind was racing but it kept flickering back to his girlfriend of six months, Alya. He couldn't imagine keeping this secret from her, she spent all her time following these Superheroes. Ladybug, Chat Noir, and the newest, Rena Rouge…

Nino sat up and searched the room, "Wait… where's Rena Rouge?" Nino asked suddenly.

Ladybug scratched her arm nervously, "Uh, she's not exactly qualified yet to do something like this…"

"You mean you guys get to know who I am but she doesn't?" Nino replied flatly. Ladybug retreated towards the window in anticipation of what Nino was about to request, "Wait, why don't I get to know who you are?"

"Uh, I think that's our cue-" Ladybug said nervously.

Chat Noir turned to his lady and his green eyes met hers. "Actually, I think I'm going to stay, Bugaboo, if you don't mind. I believe in Nino… and I think I can help."

Ladybug gave him a nod and then leaped out Nino's window, disappearing into Paris. Chat Noir stayed staring after Ladybug for several moments before glancing back over to Nino who was staring at the floor intently.

"You wanted to know who I am?" Chat Noir asked, earning Nino's attention.

Before Nino could speak, Chat Noir ripped off his ring and transformed into-

"Adrien?!" Nino gasped, falling back on his bed.

"Surprise?" Adrien chuckled.

"What the hell?!" Nino shouted, reaching back to get further away. But his hand hit the box with the bracelet and he froze in place.

Adrien's eyes softened and he offered his best friend a gentle smile, "Look, man, I'm sorry I never told you about being Chat Noir before… but if I can do it, I know you can, dude!"

Nino shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut. "Next thing you know you'll be telling me Marinette is Ladybug and Rose is Rena Rouge."

Adrien took a seat next to Nino on the bed and laughed. "Ladybug still hasn't revealed her identity to me, but I doubt it's Marinette."

"Please," Nino said rolling his eyes, "I've seen the way you look at her, you are so into Marinette!"

Adrien began to blush and gave Nino a light punch on the arm. "Shut up, I totally am not! Marinette is just a friend."

The boys laughed together for a moment before the atmosphere grew serious once again. "Look," Adrien started, "I have full faith in you, Nino, as did Master Fu. You can do this, and you have me and Ladybug to help you. I'm here for you, bud. Always."

Nino bit his lip and threw himself back on the bed to lay down. "I can't believe you picked meto do this, Adrien."

"I didn't," Adrien said shaking his head. "I wish I had but it was actually Master Fu who picked you. He's seen the kind of person you are and handpicked you for this great task."

Nino rubbed his eyes on the bed and sat up again. Hesitantly, he reached back to pick up the box then pulled out the green bracelet. Swallowing, Nino clamped it on his wrist and suddenly, a high pitched voice rang from behind him.

"Hi, I'm Wayzz!"

Nino jolted off the bed and spun around to see a little half turtle half alien-like creature floating in midair and waving at him.

"What the hell?!" Nino gasped.

Adrien laughed and reached out to shake hands with the kwami. "That's your Kwami, Wayzz." Opening his shirt pocket, Adrien continued, "Plagg you can come out it's safe."

Out came floating a little black cat kwami, causing Nino to jump up in shock.

Plagg looked Nino over as he munched on some cheese and muttered with a mouth full of Camembert, "So that's the new guy, huh?"

Wayzz floated up to Nino and smiled brightly, "You've got a lot to learn!"

Alya spotted her boyfriend waiting at the pole a block away from school where he usually waited for her in the mornings. He was leaning against the pole, his headphones on his ears and blowing bubbles as he stared ahead, his thoughts elsewhere. The sight filled Alya's heart with bubbles and she felt inclined to take a picture of it so that she could store it in her mind forever. It was the way that Nino waited for her every morning and she'd already taken too many pictures of him like that….

Snap!Nino jumped at the flash and turned to his girlfriend with a sheepish smile. "Why do you take a picture of me every morning?!"

Alya took his outstretched hand and squeezing it giggled, "You're just too cute! I can't help it!"

Nino laughed and pocketed his bubbles, swinging Alya's hand as they walked to school in silence. Silence. Alya glanced up at Nino, whose headphones were now hanging around his neck in the signature way that they did. He walked forward, but his eyes were glazed. His mind was obviously still somewhere else.

He wasn't with her as they walked past the school gates and into class. He wasn't with her when Miss Bustier called on him for the answer to a question and Adrien had to hiss it to him at the last moment. He wasn't with her when she gave him a quick kiss as she came across him in passing period. Although they didn't usually eat lunch together –Nino had lunch with Adrien and Alya with Marinette- she could see, from across the quad that he was finally present with Adrien. But the boys' eyes were darting around… they'd stop talking whenever anyone would get too close-

"If you want, you can go have lunch with him, I won't mind!" Marinette said, waving a hand in front of Alya.

Alya snapped back to reality and glanced at her best friend who was facing her with a sweet smile. "Oh, sorry Marinette!"

"Trouble with Nino?" Marinette asked.

Alya bit her lip and glanced back up at Nino. For a moment it looked like their eyes had met, but Nino didn't even see her. He was quickly back to talking with Adrien!

"He's just been so distant today! You know how talky and engaged he is, but today he's been quiet and not really present," Alya sighed, slouching forward into Marinette's arms.

"Aw come on! Look at him, he's fine with Adrien!" Marinette encouraged.

The look of annoyance in Alya's eyes told Marinette that was the wrong comment to make.

"Those boys are up to something," Alya muttered.

Marinette now was glancing over at them, hopefully. "D-do you think Nino might be encouraging him to ask me out?!"

Alya grinned at her best friend and replied, "I'm sure of it," causing them both to laugh until their eyes watered.

As Alya sat in her next class she realized how silly it was to be upset with Nino with his secrecy. She'd been keeping a huge secret from him for almost a month now! She was Rena Rouge and she couldn't even tell the boy who meant more to her than almost anyone else. She had no right to be upset over whatever secret he was likely keeping for Adrien!

After school, with lifted spirits, Alya's heart pounded as she leaned against the fence waiting for Nino to get back from his locker. He was walking out with Adrien but the second his eyes met Alya's he left, leaving Adrien midsentence. Adrien didn't seem to mind much, he closed his mouth and grinned as Nino made his way over to Alya and pulled her up, kissing her on the lips in front of everyone.

Alya squeezed his shoulders gently, smiling through the kiss, and when he set her down gently her face was flushed. She couldn't stop smiling at the sight of the love radiating from Nino's eyes, and she knew that her eyes were reflecting the same emotion.

"What was that?" Alya laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear nervously. Nino didn't usually kiss her in public, not because he didn't want to but because he was considerate of those around him and of Alya.

Nino pushed up his glasses and arranged his cap before taking Alya's hand. "Sorry, rough day but Adrien helped me through it and I just really needed to kiss you."

Alya leaned on his shoulder, smiling stupidly as they walked home. I love this boy too much, Alya thought as they walked home together.

PS: Comment if you're here bc of the beautiful Nino/Alya moment in the Zombizou episode.