Chapter Text
“Here’s the thing, Chat,” Ladybug was saying. “The Guardian of the Miracle Box has always known the identities of those who wield the miraculous.”
“I get that,” Chat moaned. “What I don’t understand is why it has to be one sided.”
Ladybug shook her head. “I didn’t really say that. It’s just- well, as the guardian, there’s a way to keep me from revealing your identity.”
Chat nodded. “What Master Fu did- he gave up his position as guardian, giving up his memories in the process.”
“Exactly,” Ladybug agreed. “But there aren’t any failsafes keeping you from revealing mine.”
“It doesn’t seem fair, though!” Chat said, whining in complaint.
“Which is why I haven’t asked you to reveal your identity yet,” Ladybug said. Her voice managed to calm Chat, soothing his nerves. “The problem is, the guardian usually isn’t on the front lines, wielding a miraculous. I’m in uncharted waters, here.”
“Plagg and Tikki know who both of us are,” Chat pointed out. “Is that enough, do you think?”
Ladybug shook her head, again. “I doubt it. One of the many failsafes the order of the guardians put in place was to prevent kwamis from revealing the identities of any miraculous holder.”
“What about the identity of the guardian?” Chat asked.
“No again, kitty. Maybe if I weren’t also Ladybug, but I am. It’s a magic spell, not a legal document with loopholes.”
“So we need to decide,” Chat said. “Do we reveal our identities, or not?”
“And that’s what’s so hard, Chat. If a mind control akuma like Simon Says or Malediktator gets ahold of one of us, they’d get both. But if we have no way to get in touch with each other outside the masks, we could equally get screwed.”
Chat grinned. “Then we’ll have to be extra careful not to let the akumas get us,” he said with a smirk.
“Hold on, we need to be sure that this is the right choice. There’s no going back once we-”
“Claws in.”