Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir

Chapter 1: Can't take it anymore

Chat couldn't take it anymore.

It had been almost two years since his lady and him had first begun saving Paris, and they were still in the dark regarding each other's identities.

Not that it was his idea to keep their identities a secret. That was all Ladybug. On the insistence of the spotted heroine, he tried to repress his curiosity and longing to know the name and face of the girl he loved.

But today, somehow, he suddenly just couldn't push away the thought of a lifetime passing away without knowing the face of his one true love, continually suppressing his ever-growing feelings for her.

"Ladybug." He whispered, as they came to stop in the alley after finishing yet another akuma battle. His voice felt hoarse with all the emotions he wanted to express and give rein to, without being restrained by her unchanging response, however gentle.

Ladybug glanced back at him over her shoulder. There were traces of worry in her fine blue eyes. Chat hadn't been himself for the past few weeks, appearing distracted, almost distraught. He had not made even one of his signature puns or smirks that day, and that was saying a lot. Ladybug smiled a wry smile to herself as she thought of how, secretly, she loved her kitty's puns. Chat Noir without his puns was like chocolate croissants without the chocolate cream. Or cupcakes without frosting. Or-

Ladybug was brought out of her musings rather suddenly as her left wrist was grabbed and she was yanked towards Chat.

"Chat!" Ladybug cried, startled out of her reverie. Chat, still with a hold on her wrist, pushed her gently towards the wall of the alley and cornered her there, placing his right hand over hers where it had come to rest on his chest. Her breath caught in her throat as she glanced up into his green, green eyes, which were fixed on her baby-blues with a fire of intensity burning in them.

Suddenly, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them.

"I need to know who you are."

"What? I-"

"I can't live like this anymore, not knowing the name of my true love, not knowing what she likes to do, what her dreams are, what are her quirks, what makes her angry, what makes her blush, and so much more. That girl under the mask- I need to know her."

Ladybug's eyes widened and a blush crept up her cheeks.

Her earrings beeped, as if alerting her as to her current predicament.

Beep Beep. Two spots left.

Chat's ring was also beeping, but he didn't seem to notice or care about it.

"C-Chat-" Why am I stuttering? "I really, really have to go. W-we can talk about this some other time."

"I'm not letting you go. Not this time." His grip on her hands tightened.

Ladybug looked at him, and to her surprise and alarm, he seemed serious. He avoided looking at her, staring outside the alley at the passing evening traffic.

"P-Please?" Ladybug tried.

His hold weakened a bit, but stayed firm.

Beep Beep. One spot left.

"You know I can't resist you when you plead with me, my Lady," Chat laughed, humourlessly. "But this time I'm not going to be deterred. I've waited far too long." He resolutely looked away.

"I really cannot bear to be haunted by such torturous thoughts any more," he continued, in a strained voice. "They're always the same-we never end up revealing our identities to each other, and I take my last breath without even-without even knowing your name." His voice cracked with emotion.

The air around them felt thick with tension, and Ladybug felt beads of sweat roll off her face, and butterflies churn in her stomach.

Her eyes had been riveted on Chat's face during the entire time, and she was getting more and more alarmed by the minute. He seemed to be serious, and was really intending to find out her identity. She had to figure out something, and fast.

But, at the same time, her heart beat traitorously as she processed Chat's intense words.

A small, teensy part of her wanted to surrender to his desires. To let herself be known, after all this time of remaining concealed.

The beeping of their respective miraculous became more and more insistent.

Unfortunately, she must have been very tired, because Ladybug couldn't come up with anything.

At this point, the end seemed inevitable. Ladybug shut her eyes tightly in apprehension. She felt like someone was stripping her bare, that soon she would lose the very thing she had been so fiercely protecting all along. Without the mask, she would lose the confidence which sprung from its mystery and elusiveness.

She would just be herself, and she wasn't ready to show him, not just then.

With a final beep, both the heroes felt a familiar tingle as their transformations faded away, leaving them bare, exposed, and vulnerable.

Ladybug-now Marinette- wondered why her partner wasn't saying anything, and felt alarmed and uneasy. Was he disappointed? Or disgusted? Or simply shocked? She couldn't tell, because Chat Noir- whoever he was under the mask- gave her no indication whatsoever.

She felt something come to rest on her head- Tikki-wondering, like her, how to escape this current predicament.

Suddenly, the hands which had been holding hers let go, and instead, grabbed her shoulders and turned her around, giving her a gentle push.

Huh? What?

Was he telling her to- go?

She didn't hesitate to take the chance he offered her.

But, before that-

She turned, and reaching out a hand, gently caressed her partner's mask-less face.

Don't worry, kitty, her thoughts pounded around her head as she ran away, Just wait. Wait for me.