Chapter Text
"Ladybug, I need to tell you something." Cat Noir interrupted their silent vigil over the city.
Ladybug hummed nonchalantly, her foot moving to the rhythm of whatever song was stuck in her head as she leaned back, using her arms to support her. She was the picture of contentment and he was about to ruin it but something had been weighing on his mind. "What is it Cat?"
Cat Noir pulled his knees to his chest, looking ahead.
"It's about what happened yesterday." Her humming and foot-tapping ceased. "I know you won't tell me what I did but you need to know about something I know that I don't think you know that I know and now Hawk Moth might know." Cat Noir winced.
"Ok." In his peripheral view, he saw Ladybug sit straighter, her eyes on him. He kept looking ahead.
"I know who Viperion is." There. He had said it. It had bothered him since he found out he had been akumatized. "I don't know if I told Hawk Moth that but... You should know."
"How did you find out?" She asked, eyes narrow.
"Wouldn't answering that give you a clue to my identity." He said bitterly. "Besides it doesn't matter how I know. Luka's identity is compromised just like Marinette's."
"M-marinette's?"
Cat Noir gave her a look. "The girl you gave the mouse miraculous and told she could never have it again just because I knew her identity despite saving us both single-handedly and being a natural at it."
Ladybug smiled in what felt like a condescending way. "Right, Marinette. Well I was right then wasn't I?"
"You could have given her the miraculous again if it wasn't for yesterday." He pouted.
"Well it's a moot point now anyway."
"I guess."
"It's a shame about Luka though. He was doing a good job as the snake holder." She looked disappointed and was it him or was Ladybug blushing?
"Sounds like someone had a crush on him." He teased. Her blush deepened. Oh. OH! "Is he the boy you like?"
"No!" She immediately denied, her face turning a darker red. He didn't believe her for a second.
"Good. Cause you know he's dating someone right?"
"He is?" She asked surprised.
"Yeah, Marinette as it turns out. Wait. Is that the real reason you won't give her the mouse miraculous again?"
To his surprise Ladybug laughed. His face crinkled in confusion.
"I already told you why and I know for a fact that Marinette is not dating Luka. Well, not yet anyway."
"She isn't?" He asked surprised.
"Why do you care?"
"She and I are friends now. That's all." He looked away. "How do you know she isn't dating him?"
"As it turns out, I've become friends with Marinette myself." She smiled smugly.
"Really?"
"Yeah." She was fighting back a laugh, he could tell. "She's in love with another boy in her class."
"She is?"
"Guess you aren't as close as you thought uh?" She smiled smugly. Oh so this was a competition now was it?
"Who's the boy?" He couldn't help being curious.
Ladybug's smile finally became normal. "Adrien Agreste."