Chapter Text
“It’s time, Marinette.”
“Time? For what?”
“Time that you and Chat tell each other who you are.”
Ladybug’s heart thudded a little too hard in her chest as she quietly slipped out of her room and took to the rooftops of Paris. Her conversation with Tikki haunted her; she ran around and used her yo-yo for quite some time before she finally collapsed, breathing heavily.
She wasn’t surprised when a black cat slunk quietly out of the shadows to stand beside her. Chat had joined her about twenty minutes ago but seemed to sense her need to push herself to her limits, and had accordingly kept his distance.
Now, he sat at her side and said, “Wanna talk about it?”
“It?” Ladybug repeated, staring at the sky. She wished she could see the stars.
“Whatever is bothering you.”
He sounded so concerned that it tugged her at her heart, and she opened her eyes to look at him. Chat really was her best friend. He could be stubborn, he had an awful sense of timing, and he was way too reckless, but he was also kind, loyal, and sweet.
If her ladybug luck had ever done one thing right, it was getting her this man as a partner.
“Tikki thinks we should reveal ourselves,” Ladybug said, sitting up.
“Really?” Chat’s excitement was obvious even as he tried to rein it in. “Why?”
“She said that the pros outweigh the cons. We trust each other enough, us not being able to find each other outside the suit is becoming an issue, and we need to know who each other is in order to achieve the next level of our powers.” Ladybug ticked each point off on her fingers. “She said it’s the last barrier to expansion, whatever that means.”
Chat wrinkled his nose. “Okay… but what if we’re akumatized?”
“Its a risk we have to take,” Ladybug said, quoting her kwami.
“That’s how Tikki feels. How do you feel about it?” Chat asked.
Ladybug sighed. “I don’t know. I go back and forth. I think… I think I’m scared.”
“Of Hawkmoth?” Chat asked gently.
“No. Well, yes. But I’m more scared of it changing things between us,” she confessed. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“My Lady.” Chat turned fully towards her and took both her hands. “You can’t lose me. Nothing could take me away from you.”
“You don’t know that,” Ladybug mumbled, her resolve weakening.
“Yes, I do. Personally, I would love to find out who you are. You know that. I’ve been waiting on you since we met.” Chat chuckled. “But I don’t want to do anything you’re comfortable with. No matter what Tikki says, we can wait if you want to.”
His sincerity was touching. Ladybug smiled. “How do you always know what to say to make me feel better?”
“I - really?” Chat looked surprised by that. “I usually feel like I’m always saying the wrong thing to you.”
“Not at all,” Ladybug said. “I love that about you.”
He blushed. “So…?”
“So I think I’m ready,” she said. “But… not tonight. Can we meet tomorrow morning? In the little park across from the Dupain-Cheng bakery? In front of our statue? I’ll be the girl wearing a red, black-spotted sundress.”
“That’s fine by me. I’ll be the boy wearing black pants, a green shirt, and holding a red rose,” Chat said.
Ladybug blushed but giggled, freeing a hand to punch him in the shoulder. “Seriously, Chaton?”
“Hey, I’ve been waiting for this moment for three years. I’ve gotta make it count,” Chat said with a grin. “I want to make my first impression a good one.”
“Fine, whatever,” Ladybug said. “We’ll meet at ten?”
“I’ll be there,” he promised, lifting her hand to gently kiss her knuckles. His green eyes lingered on her, filled with excitement.
She smiled back. “Wanna sit and watch the city for a while?”
“Sounds meow-vellous, Bugaboo.”
“Now you’ve ruined it.”
He laughed and Ladybug rolled her eyes, but it didn’t stop her from scootching over and laying her head on his shoulder. Tomorrow they would find out each other’s identities and things would change, hopefully for the better.
But tonight… tonight was just for Ladybug and Chat Noir.