The sound of rain outside was refreshing, the coffee shop gave her the best cover she could, only regulars would be there with this rain. Spring showers were nice, especially during Spring Break, she could have the coffee shop almost to herself. Alya ordered a crepe with strawberry jam, one of her favorites at this place. She added another one with Nutella for her companion, as soon as he arrives, the crepes will sure be ready.

She could listen to Ladybug behind her repeating the vow she took, "no one should know!" She mouthed silently for herself, it's not as if she was throwing everything to the world, even if risky, she was almost positive that this was it, besides if Carapace was really hanging in there, her theories would give a huge turn.

A boy entered the place with a huge rain coat. He didn't mind getting wet, but he rather smell nice for his girlfriend. After removing the wet artifact from him, he placed a nice kiss on the cheek on his girlfriend and cuddled next to her taking in hand the hot chocolate that was waiting for him.

"Just what I needed!" The young DJ savored the beverage while smiling at Alya. He gave her that look. That look that Alya recognized as questions coming from his side. He put the mug down and smiled at her. "So? What is it?" A mischievous grin showing up behind his smile.

Alya only grinned while she took a paper out of her bag. "Well, it seems that I might have more information about the super duo."

Nino kept his poker face, inwardly asking to himself to not blow up his cover. "Really? What is it this time?" He was trying to act as if this was another of the theories she always comes up. It was different though, she never points it out beforehand. Alya is the kind of person that likes to see reactions, so she tended to drop the bomb without warning. This time she told him and she brought him outside her house for more privacy…

"Well, here's the deal." Alya took a deep breath and continued with a very excited grin. "I think that Ladybug and Chat Noir might know the other 2 heroes in real life. It's just that for what I see, is not that easy to just go out there and find someone that could be a hero, and I think that if we narrow those two, then we can narrow who the heroes are…" The red head was thrilled, Nino didn't flinch at her comment and seemed to be taking his time.

After some thought to the initial statement, the DJ fixed his glasses and continued his inner debate outside his mind. "Ok, so… You mean that Chat knows Carapace and Ladybug knows Rena Rouge?" He was getting nervous, he knew that if his cover got blown off, it would be easy for Alya to find that Chat is Adrien, he couldn't let that happen. "But, didn't they keep their identities secret even between them?" Nino knew that Adrien wasn't aware who Ladybug is. This was dangerous… He couldn't let Alya find out who he was… What hint to somewhere else he could give her?

"Yes, I know they don't know!" She went back to zip her coffee. "But that's the thing, they don't know each other, we've seen Rena Rouge show up with Ladybug and Carapace only with Chat Noir." She knew she was being risky here. If Carapace is who she thinks he is, then it's playing safe in a way, but it was still risky. She could feel as if she was giving too much information. Wow! This superhero job has really caught up to her. She started fidgeting with her mug.

"I don't know Alya…" Nino was a bit confused, he was getting mixed vibes from her. He couldn't put his finger on it, was it because this was a very good theory? He had to be honest, she was this close to find out their identities now. He kept his voice down and glanced around the coffee shop, at least the place was almost empty and the rain hid their voices pretty well. " But…" He took a breath. " Rena Rouge and Carapace are only part timers, right? Doesn't that make it harder to find their identities instead of the hero duo?" Here he was risking it, but he had to do something to point Alya away from all this… If she does find out…

"Well… I thought about that too…" She mentally took note of what an amazing boyfriend she had. "The thing is that even as Rena Rouge has fought with both heroes, she always runs with Ladybug afterwards." Yes, too risky, but she was so close! "And… Carapace has only shown when Ladybug doesn't come up." She bit her lip in anticipation, Nino was startled and he couldn't hide it. "So, this means that Ladybug chose Rena Rouge and Chat Noir chose Carapace." The intrigue was killing her, getting every detail as if it was a deduction was an art she has learned since she became the Fox holder.

Nino was left stunned, yes, Alya was way too close… But he couldn't give in, everything in his feelings was telling him to just spill it out, but his mind was telling him to keep it down. It wasn't just hazardous for Alya to know who he was, he had to keep her safe, but if she had any lead on Rena Rouge and on Carapace and he gave in, she would put 1 plus 1 together and at least he knew that she would link Chat to Adrien… This was too much… So much that he couldn't find himself responding properly. What could he do…

After a moment of inside thoughts, he took the paper she was holding and took a choice. "So, you have them linked together… Wow! So you must have a hint on Rena Rouge then. How did you connect all this stuff?" If he appealed to her journalist instincts, he could divert her to the other part-time hero and maybe, just maybe, he could mislead her.

Alya noticed a bit of hesitation in his eyes, but she decided to leave it like this, at least she's got her case and it is getting strong. Now back to the investigation. "Take a look at this!" She pointed to the paper and started adding names and lines. "The few times that Carapace has shown up it was because Ladybug did not show up, right?"

Nino only nodded, trying to build a backup plan in his head… He needed to talk to Adrien and Plagg about this. Or maybe just Plagg…

The journalist's eyes glittered in emotion and excitement. "So, why didn't Chat went to find Rena Rouge? He doesn't know who she is, just as he doesn't know who Ladybug is." But, he was able to find someone else. I bet that it wasn't easy for Ladybug to find the fox, and the first time that she showed up with Ladybug and Chat Noir, it was to battle a multiplying akuma, and, she appeared pretty quick too, as if Ladybug knew she could be trusted. So, why couldn't it be that way between Carapace and Chat Noir?" Her sight was eager to see Nino's realization hit him in the face.

He couldn't tell Adrien, but he must tell Plagg… He wished he could tell Wayzz too… "Oh… There is a lot of thought in there." He hold his words, if she knew who he was, then she will find Adrien, could it be that she knows who the fox is? He looked at her quizzically. He couldn't ask… But he was curious, did she know who the fox is? But no, not now, he couldn't give in, not after Adrien and Plagg and Wayzz' trust, not after the safety of his girlfriend.

Alya was trying to guess what was going on inside Nino's head. It was a mix of awareness and shyness. She couldn't pick the other emotion in his eyes, was it… Determination? She was proud of him, and she knew how she just hinted about Rena Rouge too much, but she could trust him.

Something got her attention back to her bag. Her phone was ringing. Nino took noticed too. Alya took it out to see what was going on, and Alya confirmed it. There was an akuma attack. "Well, want to go film it then?"

Nino nodded and thought to himself how he was just saved by the bell…

Adrien has been pacing for the last 20 minutes. Marinette answered back but asked for 30 minutes to take a shower and dress up. He knew he was being irrational, he knew he was being impatient and he knew he was being over protective.

"I didn't know that it was getting so into you Adrien," Plagg mocked his holder with a huge grin on his face. Teasing the blond was one of his hobbies, and he was getting so many cat like attitudes lately that he couldn't hold himself. "Maybe next time you see her, you could mark her as your own."

"Would you just stop it?" Adrien stopped pacing to glare at Plagg. "If you keep on it I might even start hissing at you!" He moved his sight to his hands, looked at them and then dropped them as if he let drop something non important to the ground.

In this kind of situations is when playing the piano or fencing would help out a lot, but he didn't want to play the piano, not now… If he did, it would distract him too much and he wanted to be ready for when Marinette texted back. "Arg! Really! These are the cat like things that I don't like about you Plagg!"

"Hey!" The black cat kwami frowned to the comment. "Why me?" He pouted.

"It's your magic that makes me do things like this!" Adrien claimed firmly, as if the world depended on it.

"Well, it's more you, you know? The kwami magic only accentuates the trails that are already there." Plagg smirked to himself, Adrien was fuming over this answer.

"Oh! Just shut up Plagg! The boy went back to pacing.

The black cat floated away to one of his high spots very glad of himself.

A phone notification broke the tension between the two partners, the boy in question jumped on excitement at the moment that the phone ringed. He threw himself to grab it on his bed.

[Marinette]: I'm ready!
[Marinette]: Sorry it took so long!

[Adrien]: It's ok!
[Adrien]: I wasn't waiting.

[Marinette]: Why I don't believe you…
[Marinette]: Hehe :P

[Adrien]: :D
[Adrien]: Caught me there.
[Adrien]: I was worried about you.
[Adrien]: We had a huge scare yesterday.

[Marinette]: Yes
[Marinette]: I'm sorry about that…

Adrien was taken aback by her answer. Marinette was apologizing because he was not strong enough to protect her.

[Adrien]: What?
[Adrien]: No!

[Adrien]: You got hurt Mari!
[Adrien]: It was an accident!

[Adrien]: You're not the one to apologize…

He closed his eyes and decided to call her, he wanted to hear her voice too. She hesitated and let the phone ring 4 times.

"Hello…" Marinette said shyly.

"Hello!" Adrien answered more energetic than usual. He waited for her to say something, but he could only hear her mumble sounds over her breath.

"Is everything ok?" The blond was starting to worry. "Marinette?"

"Um…" She hesitated once more. "I'm sorry."

He stood up from his bed, eyes wide. "Marinette… You did nothing wrong…" He took a pause before continuing. "It was not your fault, it was an accident!"

"But…" Marinette couldn't tell him that she should have transformed and be Ladybug and not get injured and not worry them so much…

"Please Marinette…" Adrien was pledging now. "Don't blame yourself, if you want to blame someone, blame me…" Adrien couldn't tell her that he should have transformed in Chat Noir before she got injured. "I couldn't protect you yesterday… I'm sorry…"

Marinette was shocked, she's been sulking since she woke up after getting hit in the head and she forgot that this amazing boy worries about her too. "Ok… I will stop blaming my clumsiness, but you stop blaming yourself too. You found the ambulance, didn't you?" She should stop moping about what happened last night. She had an amazing date with Adrien and even saw Chat when he visited the balcony. She forced herself to smile over the phone;

Adrien signed loudly "Ok… I will. But just if you let me visit you this afternoon." He smirked this time, feeling better already if he could see her.

Marinette giggled lightly. "Ok, but you have to help me with my homework, is that ok?"

"It's a date!" Adrien answered back very energetic.

The girl in question was starting t wonder, is everything a date? "Hehe, I didn't know you were such a flirt Adrien." Marinette said it before thinking and Adrien heard a gasp over the phone. "No, well, I mean… you remind me of Chat Noir, you know? Hehe…"

Adrien smiled ear to ear, if she could put them together, then it means that even if he competed with himself, he still had the hand to win. "I trust you to see all sides of me Marinette, and why shouldn't I flirt with you? You're my wonderful girl."

"You are a flirt Adrien Agreste! And I think I like it hehe!" She added to her last comment, even that it implied opening up and turning red as a tomato. She was thankful that is was a call and not a video call at this point.

"Ok, I'll be leaving soon then, I'll ask Nathalie to clear my schedule to do homework and I'm sure my bodyguard will take me there, it's raining cats and dogs and I am positive that they won't let me go by myself." The boy grinned once more, proud of the planning he just did.

"Ok, I'll be waiting. Let me know if anything comes up." Marinette glanced at her room. "I'll get everything ready for a study date."

"Bye, see ya' in a few!." Adrien said.

"Bye!" Marinette hanged up.

Adrien was happy, he jumped back from his bed and went to the door. He needed to talk to Nathalie to make sure his schedule is cleared. The TV interrupted him though. "It seems that this akuma is targeting couples! Be careful out there! It's heading to the Eiffel Tower…"

The boy looked at Plagg. "Well, I guess that my date with Marinette will have to wait… Plagg! Claws out!"